Rui Borges highlights the evolution of Sporting after the thrashing of V. Guimarães.

Rui Borges does not shy away: Sporting showed a “different face” and wants to turn the page on the recent turbulent weeks. Following a resounding 5-1 victory against V. Guimarães, the Lions’ coach provided a clear and direct assessment of the team that is being reborn in the championship.

“It was not what we wanted in the game against Tondela, nor the level of demand we desired. We were all aware of that,” Borges admitted, referring to the difficult moment the team has been experiencing. But yesterday, on the pitch at the Estádio José Alvalade, everything changed. “Today was a different game; we scored two goals right away, we were effective, something we lacked in other matches,” the coach emphasized. Confidence and competitive attitude, he stated, were finally in sync with the club’s ambitions.

When asked if this victory was solely the result of his work, Borges was emphatic: “It is everyone’s merit. I need the players; they are the ones who make me a coach. I have a fantastic group that, although it has gone through less positive moments, has never stopped fighting for Sporting. The right mentality was there, and that is the most important thing.”

In terms of strategy, Rui Borges revealed a precise tactical reading of the opponent: “We understood that Vitória likes to press at the start, but then they leave spaces. We took advantage of that to attack in depth and create several goal-scoring opportunities.” A detail that demonstrates the maturity of both the team and its coach in the face of adversity.

The coach did not hold back in praising Gonçalo Inácio, who surprised by being a starter. “He is a leader on the field, much like Dani Bragança. He gritted his teeth, wanted to be with the team, and played a great game, even feeling some difficulties at the end. Those are the examples we want to see at Sporting,” he emphasized.

Rui Borges made it clear that this Sporting, with this level of commitment and quality, could be a strong contender in the title race: “We fought until the end, but we need to value what we did well. There are many games, and we need to be more consistent and competitive, especially in this demanding phase of the season. After fantastic months, we had a dip that we have already overcome.”

For the coach, the watchword for the remainder of the championship is “devotion.” “We must be true to ourselves and show why so many players have made history at Sporting with so many trophies. That is our commitment until the end,” he concluded.

With these statements, Rui Borges presents a Sporting that has awakened to reality, one that does not let itself be discouraged by setbacks and is prepared to fight until the last minute for the season’s great objective. The lion is back – and hungry for victories.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.