The player speaks before the second leg against Manchester City

Upon arrival in England for Sporting Clube de Portugal's Champions League fixture against Manchester City, player Ricardo Esgaio was the team's representative in the pre-match press conference. 

“We are going to enjoy the game to the fullest”, he said. “We know that the tie is practically over, but it is a game that we want to win -despite the result of the first leg. We are going to make the most of the fact that we are still in the Champions League and enjoy ourselves”.

“We have our ideas and that doesn't change; we always play to win. We will have to have a good game and give a different response to get a positive result”.

Being one of the players with the most experience at Sporting CP, the versatile player assured that, despite the absentees for the game, “the team are doing well”, adding that he is “available to help” in any position on the field.

Asked about the competition for places provided by Pedro Porro and Gonçalo Esteves on the right wing, he praised that the squad are “like a family”, because “we know that everyone can play”.

The squad for the European contest includes several youth team products, including Renato Veiga and Rodrigo Ribeiro. Esgaio commented that “this is already starting to be a normal thing, and the Sporting CP project goes through that”.