Sporting head coach Rui Borges believes his side deserved more for their showing over the two legs against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final
On Wednesday night Sporting CP saw their Champions League dream end after a narrow elimination at the hands of Premier League leaders Arsenal, but the Portuguese champions’ manager Rui Borges is content with his side’s performance and felt they could have got something more out of the tie.
Ahead of the first leg, Borges was asked by the press about the difference in squad values and how that would affect Sporting’s ability to compete with Arsenal. After two tight games and a tie settled by one late goal in the first leg, it can certainly be said that Sporting competed.
A Peugeot against a Mercedes
When asked about squad values before the second leg, the Portuguese coach made a humorous analogy that he would later return to after the game.
“Value is subjective. A Mercedes can do 200km/h but so can a Peugeot,” said Borges at his pre-game press conference.
“It’s the same thing, but the value of the Mercedes is double. It is what it is.
“The trick is to know the shortcuts, the roads and find a way to maybe come out in front.”
Sporting deserved more
After the game, reporters couldn’t miss the opportunity to remind Borges of these comments and he was asked if his Peugeot lacked cylinder power in the end.
“It’s subjective, the Peugeot performed at the same level as the Mercedes,” said Borges at his post-match press conference.
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“It performed very well, above average. [The team] deserved more for what they did over the two games. Luck or chance, I don’t think about that.
“We worked hard but we should have been more efficient. If Geny [Catamo]’s shot goes inside the post instead of hitting it. It’s not luck, it’s work and ability.”
Borges wishes Arteta luck
Despite perhaps tongue-in-cheek comments about his Peugeot matching Mikel Arteta’s “Mercedes”, Borges revealed that after the game he wished the Arsenal manager the best of luck for the rest of the season.
“I wished him luck for the big challenges ahead,” said Borges.
“There are no favourites, just four big teams and they are all contenders to win [the Champions League].
“As someone who likes football, I can only enjoy the games now. I’d like to be there, we didn’t manage it, but we were among the best eight [in the competition].”
Attention turns to other fronts for Sporting
Despite the pain of such a narrow exit, a Champions League quarter-final is undoubtedly an impressive showing for Sporting CP and Borges can be proud of guiding his side to the final eight of the tournament.
There is plenty left to play for, though, with the title race still very much on and the Portuguese Cup still to play for as well.
Next up for Sporting is the Lisbon derby against Benfica on Sunday, with the added incentive that they cannot afford to drop points if they hope to catch Porto at the top of the table.