September 20, 2024

Upholding Our Winning Mentality – Primeira Liga

Anticipating a packed stadium, Rui Borges emphasized the importance of focus and is counting on delivering an outstanding performance against FC Porto.

Riding high from an exhilarating victory in the Minho derby at Pedreira de Braga, Vitória Sport Clube approaches their match against FC Porto with renewed confidence. In the lead-up to the game, coach Rui Borges noted that the team is highly motivated and well-aware of their opponent’s strengths. He assured that they would do everything possible to secure all three points upon returning to Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. Acknowledging the crucial support of their fans, the coach anticipates changes in FC Porto’s attack and commended them, but he remains confident that Vitória SC has what it takes to prevail, further solidifying their strong start to the season.

The battle for second place: “We are fighting for the three points. That is what I am saying. I am only concerned about the game. We are going to face a great team, very competitive and intense, which is having a good start to the championship, a bit like previous seasons. They usually come out strong and want to show that they are a great team, but they will come up against a team that is in high spirits and that is also having a good start to the season. We are going to be ourselves without straying from what we have been. The last game is in the past, it doesn’t matter anymore. We won, it was great, but now we have to focus on our path. We now face FC Porto, now led by a new coach who is bringing a lot of dynamism to the team, and this one also stands out for its rigour and commitment. It is a difficult game, as all have been, starting with the game against Floriana. Everyone said they were an easy team, but for me it has always been difficult”.

Is FC Porto’s offense a formidable challenge? “The challenges have been constant for me and the team. Sometimes we don’t value those who do things well enough and, from what I’ve heard, they always put us to the test. We beat Floriana because we had to, we beat Zurich because they weren’t a great team either… and so on. Then the idea came up that we would be put to the test against Famalicão and we won. For the Braga game, the same question arose again: now we’ll see if they’re really ready. And we won in Braga. Now we’re up against FC Porto, and it will always be like that. I’ve been tested ever since I was born. FC Porto is a very dynamic team, I believe they’ll make a few changes up front, they’re very aggressive and play deep. I believe there will be some changes among the forwards. Namaso does some things, the others do others, but we’re ready. We can’t relax because they have above-average quality, but we will play with the same rigor, concentration and the same game plan in terms of defense and offense. And I believe that we will have a great atmosphere in the stadium. The last victory was very special for our fans and, therefore, they will continue to show up in force. They will help us win this game.”

Mikel Villanueva: “Mikel is still in doubt. It will be a question until the game. He has been training, we will see what can happen”.

Samu or Namaso at FC Porto?“ Namaso gives some things, Samu gives others. We are prepared for either situation. The small behaviors are what decide the games. Concentration makes all the difference. If we maintain this rigor, I believe we will play a good game and the team is confident. I believe we will play a great game. The players want to maintain the habit of winning.”

Speaking candidly: “I speak from the heart because I am honest, whether with you or with the structure. I have not created different ways of communicating. I am always the same and I will communicate in the same way when things are not going so well. I like to speak openly and in football you know everything. I am very much like that with the players. They are the ones who make me a coach, I am here to help them. If they believe in my speech and in the speeches of the rest of the technical team, which is very competent, everything will go well, always respecting individualities. I listen to the players a lot. A game only has 20% of me, the remaining 80% is what the players give on the field. The decision-making is theirs. What I want them to do is make mistakes, make a lot of mistakes, I always ask them to do that. The only people who make mistakes are those who do not hide. I do not hide either. That is what makes us happy. The important thing is to react to mistakes and, as time goes by, we will make fewer and fewer mistakes”.

40 matches in the league and this week’s updates: “I didn’t even know about this milestone, but I’m very happy with my journey… They went to tell my mother off up there, and I was happy. It’s good to know that my family is proud of me, even when things aren’t going so well. But I’m still the same, the one who started at Mirandela. Now I’m at Vitória SC and a coach always fights to reach these high levels; otherwise I would stay there, at Mirandela. I’m fighting for my path and, fortunately, I’ve achieved the goals I set. I’m happy that they valued me, but I’d rather they value the players. If they do that, they already value me.”

A victory against Braga is doubly significant: “It’s worth twice as much for all Vitória fans; for me it was only worth three points. I know what it meant to the fans. As a coach, I value a win against Braga as much as I value beating the last-placed team. These are games. Besides, there has to be respect. We have to respect everyone. Now we’re going to face an FC Porto team that fights for titles every season and is almost always in the Champions League. The difficulty is there, but everyone poses difficulties. We have to be able to adapt and we have to respect all our opponents.”