Sporting’s coach argues that the team deserved at least extra time in the tie against Arsenal.
Rui Borges, Sporting’s coach, in the press conference following the draw in London against Arsenal, which sealed the Lions’ exit from the Champions League:
Proud of the team
The word ‘pride’ is the right one to describe the team. For everything the players did in both games, we deserved more, at least to play extra time. Sporting had the best opportunities in both games. We balanced the game and went toe=to=toe with one of the best teams in Europe. That was fantastic. We’ve been doing it all season, but it has more impact because it’s in the Champions League, against the best, but we showed that we are also among the best.
Frustrated at having lost the qualifying round?
There can be no frustration, only pride in the two great games they were able to play against one of the best teams in Europe. If we want to be among the best in Europe, we have to have the ability and the mentality to respond every three days. This has to propel us forward for the next games; we cannot lower our level of quality, both individually and collectively.
Did Sporting have bad luck?
The team was above average, played a great game today and deserved more. Luck or bad luck? I don’t pay much attention to that, I’m very level=headed. Luck takes a lot of work. We should have been more efficient. Instead of hitting the post, Geny should have put the ball in the net (laughs). It is what it is, today the ball hits the post, tomorrow it goes in. It’s part of the game, that’s football.
Strategy for the game
“In terms of strategy, it was simple. We played against a great team and we couldn’t let off-field emotions get the better of us. The slightest opening could have allowed us to lose the tie. The team was fantastic and we had the best opportunities. With the ball, we tried not to let the game unfold, because Arsenal has great players individually who could decide the game. Just like us: if they let us play one=on=one, we’re closer to winning games. We wanted to establish ourselves in Arsenal’s half because they’re a team that doesn’t feel comfortable without the ball, that loses reference points for pressing. We wanted to have organized attacks that lasted a while, to wear down the Arsenal team. We managed to do it. Sporting is a team that likes to have the ball and value the game, an offensive and possession-based team, and today we didn’t deviate from that. We demonstrated our idea, character and personality, and that makes me very proud.
Was there a penalty committed on Maxi Araujo?
I don’t talk about that, because that would be to devalue our ability throughout the game and the quality we displayed.
Could he have been more ambitious when he tinkered with the game?
In both games we were very ambitious. We’ve never lacked ambition, quite the opposite. Regarding the upcoming games, the next one is against Benfica. We need to recover, breathe, and think about it calmly. Benfica is fresher because they’ve been playing week after week, but at home, with the help of our fans, we want to play another great game and beat a good team.
Conversation with Mikel Arteta at the end
I wished him luck in the great challenges he will face. There are no favorites in the Champions League semi=finals; they are four great teams. Any one of them is a contender to win it. I will enjoy watching those games. We really wanted to be among them, but we were very proud to have been among the top eight.