Rui Borges, Sporting coach, believes that the game this Friday, October 31st, with Alverca, in the 10th round of the I League, will be “different” from the match for the League Cup, but he is confident in the performance of his players.
“It’s a different game, totally different. There are changes from side to side, different players, different characteristics. Within individual characteristics [dos jogadores]there is another different dynamic, which was not there in the League Cup game”, said Rui Borges at the press conference in which he previewed the game with Alverca.
“I believe it will be a game with greater difficulty – I have no doubt about that -, but I also believe that the team [do Sporting] what to play tomorrow [sexta-feira] will enter with the same energy as he played on Tuesday. Therefore, I am super confident in the team’s response”, added Rui Borges.
The Sporting coach also stated that his confidence results from the good performance of all the players who have been called upon to make their contribution to the main team.
“The guys who have come in, not just those who have played at the start, but those who have come in throughout the games, have given a fantastic response, they have also been important in terms of maintaining energy and quality, in terms of our offensive flow. I’m super calm with who to play with”, he reiterated.
Faced with the good performance of Fotis Ioannidis in the League Cup game with Alverca, the Sporting coach recognized that it is good to have two strikers with the quality of Luis Suaréz and Fotis Ioannidis, who “offer different things to the team”.
As for Suaréz’s starting role, Rui Borges recalled that Ioannidis “arrived later” and that Luis Suaréz has fulfilled, but guaranteed that all players have opportunities in the Sporting team.
“Fotis also arrived later, he entered a phase in which we were already at the beginning of the competitions. He has had to adapt to what the team is, to his colleagues, he has grown immensely, the group also really recognizes his quality, both in him and in Luis. Only and only Luis has responded”, explained Rui Borges.
“Fotis, in what his games have been, in the minutes he has had – and it’s important -, he is super connected, he is super happy at Sporting. And I see that every day. But they are two different players, they are two great players. Fortunately, we have both of them on our side”, he added.
Sporting, two-time national champion and current runner-up, with 22 points, three less than the leader, FC Porto, faces Alverca, 12th, with 10 points, in a match on the 10th round scheduled for 8:15 pm on Friday, at the José Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, with refereeing by António Nobre, from the Leiria Football Association.