Rui Borges confident and focused on winning the “most important” game of his career

Coach Rui Borges showed himself today to be very confident and focused on winning the second championship with Sporting in the “most important” game of his career, at Benfica’s home ground, on the 33rd round of the I Football League.

“We are where we want to be and where this club needs to be, in the finals, and trying to win trophies that we are involved in. We can play with two results, but we only focus on what we can control to be able to win. We do not shy away from the importance of the game, but the week was normal, we looked at it the same way and we will try to win it, within the difficulties that we will encounter”, said Rui Borges, in a press conference ahead of the game.

The 'lions' could be crowned champions if they win their visit to their 'eternal' rivals from Lisbon, but a defeat by two or more goals will give the title to the 'encarnados'. A draw or a one-goal win for Benfica will keep the match indecisive until the last round.

“We want to win, regardless of whether it’s at our rival’s home ground or not. The draw means we still have to win against a great team in the last round [Vitória de Guimarães]. It’s the game of the century and that only adds value to our championship, our football and our country. I’m an optimist by birth, I’m very focused and confident. I know that not everything will go well, but I’m very confident”, said the 43-year-old coach.

The “group’s resilience” could make the difference for Rui Borges, who recalled the need to “overcome obstacles along the way, with ambition and courage”, to be able to fight for a title, something he never achieved during his career.

“It is an important moment for the future of Sporting, as it gives us the championship. It is the biggest objective of a coach and of a national champion team. It is the first time I can be [champion], so it is the most important moment of my career”, he stressed.

Rui Borges believes that “everything will affect the game” and that it will be necessary to deal with anxiety well, having also commented on the words of Ruben Amorim, who started the season at Sporting and stated that he will be rooting for the 'lions' in the Lisbon derby.

“Just as he is rooting for us and I am happy, we are also rooting for him in the Europa League final [for Manchester United]. I am an admirer, he managed to make it from the bottom to the top due to his character, personality, ability and competence. We will always look at him with admiration. I am happy with the words, he has changed the paradigm of Sporting a little, he has his own history and we have to respect and admire it”, he highlighted, pointing to the importance of Amorim and João Pereira on the path.

Sporting and Benfica, tied at the top with 78 points, will play a derby on Saturday that could be very decisive in the awarding of the title, at 18:00, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, with João Pinheiro, from the Braga association, as the referee.

Coach Rui Borges showed himself today to be very confident and focused on winning the second championship with Sporting in the “most important” game of his career, at Benfica’s home ground, on the 33rd round of the I Football League.

“We are where we want to be and where this club needs to be, in the finals, and trying to win trophies that we are involved in. We can play with two results, but we only focus on what we can control to be able to win. We do not shy away from the importance of the game, but the week was normal, we looked at it the same way and we will try to win it, within the difficulties that we will encounter”, said Rui Borges, in a press conference ahead of the game.

The 'lions' could be crowned champions if they win their visit to their 'eternal' rivals from Lisbon, but a defeat by two or more goals will give the title to the 'encarnados'. A draw or a one-goal win for Benfica will keep the match indecisive until the last round.

“We want to win, regardless of whether it’s at our rival’s home ground or not. The draw means we still have to win against a great team in the last round [Vitória de Guimarães]. It’s the game of the century and that only adds value to our championship, our football and our country. I’m an optimist by birth, I’m very focused and confident. I know that not everything will go well, but I’m very confident”, said the 43-year-old coach.

The “group’s resilience” could make the difference for Rui Borges, who recalled the need to “overcome obstacles along the way, with ambition and courage”, to be able to fight for a title, something he never achieved during his career.

“It is an important moment for the future of Sporting, as it gives us the championship. It is the biggest objective of a coach and of a national champion team. It is the first time I can be [champion], so it is the most important moment of my career”, he stressed.

Rui Borges believes that “everything will affect the game” and that it will be necessary to deal with anxiety well, having also commented on the words of Ruben Amorim, who started the season at Sporting and stated that he will be rooting for the 'lions' in the Lisbon derby.

“Just as he is rooting for us and I am happy, we are also rooting for him in the Europa League final [for Manchester United]. I am an admirer, he managed to make it from the bottom to the top due to his character, personality, ability and competence. We will always look at him with admiration. I am happy with the words, he has changed the paradigm of Sporting a little, he has his own history and we have to respect and admire it”, he highlighted, pointing to the importance of Amorim and João Pereira on the path.

Sporting and Benfica, tied at the top with 78 points, will play a derby on Saturday that could be very decisive in the awarding of the title, at 18:00, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, with João Pinheiro, from the Braga association, as the referee.

Coach Rui Borges showed himself today to be very confident and focused on winning the second championship with Sporting in the “most important” game of his career, at Benfica’s home ground, on the 33rd round of the I Football League.

“We are where we want to be and where this club needs to be, in the finals, and trying to win trophies that we are involved in. We can play with two results, but we only focus on what we can control to be able to win. We do not shy away from the importance of the game, but the week was normal, we looked at it the same way and we will try to win it, within the difficulties that we will encounter”, said Rui Borges, in a press conference ahead of the game.

The 'lions' could be crowned champions if they win their visit to their 'eternal' rivals from Lisbon, but a defeat by two or more goals will give the title to the 'encarnados'. A draw or a one-goal win for Benfica will keep the match indecisive until the last round.

“We want to win, regardless of whether it’s at our rival’s home ground or not. The draw means we still have to win against a great team in the last round [Vitória de Guimarães]. It’s the game of the century and that only adds value to our championship, our football and our country. I’m an optimist by birth, I’m very focused and confident. I know that not everything will go well, but I’m very confident”, said the 43-year-old coach.

The “group’s resilience” could make the difference for Rui Borges, who recalled the need to “overcome obstacles along the way, with ambition and courage”, to be able to fight for a title, something he never achieved during his career.

“It is an important moment for the future of Sporting, as it gives us the championship. It is the biggest objective of a coach and of a national champion team. It is the first time I can be [champion], so it is the most important moment of my career”, he stressed.

Rui Borges believes that “everything will affect the game” and that it will be necessary to deal with anxiety well, having also commented on the words of Ruben Amorim, who started the season at Sporting and stated that he will be rooting for the 'lions' in the Lisbon derby.

“Just as he is rooting for us and I am happy, we are also rooting for him in the Europa League final [for Manchester United]. I am an admirer, he managed to make it from the bottom to the top due to his character, personality, ability and competence. We will always look at him with admiration. I am happy with the words, he has changed the paradigm of Sporting a little, he has his own history and we have to respect and admire it”, he highlighted, pointing to the importance of Amorim and João Pereira on the path.

Sporting and Benfica, tied at the top with 78 points, will play a derby on Saturday that could be very decisive in the awarding of the title, at 18:00, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, with João Pinheiro, from the Braga association, as the referee.