The Sporting CP captain previews the Taça da Liga final

Morten Hjulmand previewed the Taça da Liga final against SL Benfica in a press conference before Saturday's game, and recalled the last two finals played by Sporting CP.

“They were balanced finals, but there were some circumstances that made the difference. In the first game against FC Porto [Taça de Portugal] a red card changed things and in the second game [Supertaça] we lost some concentration during the second half. Tomorrow will be different and it will be easy for us to be focused and concentrated during the entire 90 minutes.”

“It is always very important to play and beat a rival. Furthermore, we know that it is a final and that finals are there to be won. For all of us, the club and the team, it is very important to win. We are always dissatisfied when this does not happen," he stated.

The captain said of the opposition: “Honestly, we analyse SL Benfica as a whole and the way they play. We have prepared for the game in the best possible way and just focused on that. Remembering the second half by SL Benfica at Alvalade, they made some tactical changes, mainly in their pressing, and that created some difficulties for us in getting the ball out. Tomorrow I don't know if they will do the same thing, but we have prepared ourselves for everything."

Hjulmand also spoke about the absence of Hidemasa Morita – the latest player to suffer an injury–, saying “that the team will miss him because he is a very important player.”

“We have many games and players who play all 90 minutes after 90 minutes. The same thing happens at other clubs. As players we have to be responsible to be in top shape, because if we are not prepared for this, injuries appear, as the fixture list is so tight. We are seeing a lot of injuries in the rest of Europe and that is not good news.”

The coach looks ahead to the Taça da Liga final

This Saturday, Sporting Clube de Portugal play SL Benfica in the Taça da Liga, and coach Rui Borges spoke about the challenge ahead in a pre-match press conference.

“I'm happy to be in the final, no matter who the opponents are, and very focused on ourselves. As for the changes at SL Benfica, the main principles do not change. There will be changes to individual characteristics, which will add some details to the team, but the idea does not change. We are prepared for whatever SL Benfica may or may not implement in the game, offensively and defensively," he stated.

"I believe there may be one or two changes in relation to their last game, despite their having enjoyed a beautiful game against SC Braga, but, more than that, it is important to prepare our team for the demands of the match. We have had a few days to work, a few days to recover and a lot of players were fatigued, so we will have to be careful, but the team are in good form and will give a good response."

“I don’t believe 100% that they play with the same team as in the semifinal, but we will be prepared for what SL Benfica may want from the game, which is to come in strong, just like they did against SC Braga. We have to be prepared for this and much more focused on what we can control as a team.”

With Hidemasa Morita out due to injury, the coach did not reveal who will play in midfield, saying that this will not change anything.

“We play with eleven players and I never dwell on difficulties, but rather I look for solutions. We will be competitive, we will be a good team, we will maintain the courage we have had and we will have a good game, regardless of whether we play Simões, Brito or others who have already played there. It’s up to me to find solutions, especially because we have other players, and I know that we will be competitive -regardless of who plays," he explained, before saying that Gonçalo Inácio "is one of the possibilities."

Sporting CP have several players out injured or fatigued, but Borges commented that “I don't focus on that. The team is tired, and that's part of football, especially because some players are carrying injuries, and we run the risk of losing even more of them, but we can't get attached to that. We are in a final, we are at a big club and the demand must always be to give our best. If we always do our best, whether tired or not, there are no advantages. The game is 11 against 11 and we have to do our best. If we do our best we will be competitive and we will win.”

“Because it’s a final, you can’t be tired. The desire to win and add trophies to the club's history must overcome any physical or mental fatigue. When the game starts, I believe the team will be prepared and will give a good response”, he added.