Rui Borges remains hopeful after defeat in Lisbon.

Rui Borges keeps his head held high and the flame of hope alive after the harsh setback against Arsenal. Despite the 0-1 defeat at the Estádio José Alvalade, the coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal showed unwavering confidence in his team and promised a fierce response in the second leg in London. In exclusive statements in the press room of the Auditório Artur Agostinho, Borges emphasized the strong identity of Sporting and the belief in a surprising outcome in the English capital.

The longest consecutive winning streak at Alvalade has come to an end, but for Rui Borges, this is just another chapter in the brilliant story the group is building. “The 17 victories are more about the team, the players, who deserve this recognition and credit. It’s a fantastic group that is making history for Sporting in every way. One day that number will be surpassed, for sure,” stated the coach, highlighting the importance of Alvalade as a true fortress.

Regarding the match against Arsenal, Borges described it as a balanced duel, evidenced by goalkeeper Rui Raya being named man of the match by UEFA. “Raya was a reflection of what Sporting did. Arsenal, apart from that shot that hit the crossbar in the first half, had two shots that only stopped due to Rui’s intervention. We had three clear goal-scoring opportunities, all brilliantly saved by Arsenal. This demonstrates the balance of the match, with possession at 54 to 56% in our favor,” he explained.

For the coach, the defeat is frustrating because the team did not deserve to lose, given the effort and quality displayed. “We have already beaten Arsenal in the last minute; today we lost. It’s time to hold our heads high and believe. In London, we will try for something unprecedented, a great challenge that this team knows how to face. I am confident that we will respond appropriately,” he promised.

At the end of the match, Rui Borges shared a meaningful hug with Gyökeres, one of the pillars of Sporting last season. “I asked him about his family and said I was happy for him. He deserves the recognition from Sporting fans and from us. He helped me a lot to become national champion and made history for Sporting and Portuguese football. He is always a welcome player,” revealed the coach, who maintains his hope for the second leg.

When questioned about the strategy of making only two substitutions, Borges explained that the options on the bench did not possess the necessary characteristics to change the pace of the game. “Arsenal was pressing man-to-man a lot, and I felt that making more changes could disrupt the physical balance of the team. Morita was providing us with calmness on the ball. Taking him off to put in a different player could have compromised the clarity of our game,” he explained. Nevertheless, the coach acknowledged that, for the clash in London, the possible use of Hjulmand and Quenda could add something new and offensive to try to surprise the opponent.

Rui Borges made it clear that, despite the defeat, Sporting’s European dream is far from over. The Lions are looking to turn the tie around in the second leg and continue their journey in the Champions League, demonstrating that pride and determination are alive and stronger than ever. The battle in London promises to be intense, and Sporting is prepared to fight until the last second.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).