{"id":3098,"date":"2026-04-07T04:08:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3098"},"modified":"2026-04-07T04:08:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:08:07","slug":"sporting-manager-rui-borges-gives-arsenal-verdict-as-season-threatens-to-unravel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3098","title":{"rendered":"Sporting manager Rui Borges gives Arsenal verdict as season threatens to unravel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_68255d\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in the away leg of their Champions League quarter final on Tuesday night after losing the Carabao Cup final and being knocked out of the FA Cup<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36976154\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Head Coach Rui Borges of Sporting CP \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976154.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2269095272.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976154.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2269095272.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976154.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2269095272.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976154.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2269095272.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Rui Borges will lead Sporting against Arsenal on Tuesday night\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Rui Borges will lead Sporting against Arsenal on Tuesday night<cite aria-label=\"Image: Carlos Rodrigues\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Carlos Rodrigues\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rui Borges fears Arsenal will be \u201clike a wounded beast\u201d in the wake of their double cup disaster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Borges also says Sporting Lisbon will be on red alert to stop Viktor Gyokeres as the Arsenal striker prepares to face his former club in the Champions League quarter final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sporting\u2019s bigger concern will be to overcome Arsenal who have lost back-to-back games, suffering defeat in the Carabao Cup final before getting knocked out of the FA Cup at Southampton on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will now have the chance for redemption in the Champions League but Borges insists that Sporting can reach their first ever semi final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sporting boss Borges said: \u201cArsenal are a great team and they will be like a wounded beast tomorrow, more focused on their individual capacity. Frankly, it will make it more difficult for us but we believe we can do something special tomorrow and do something that has never been done before by reaching the semi final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mirrorfootballarsenal#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">  Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Three Arsenal stars spotted back in training after injuries but multiple players still absent<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal star told he&#8217;s &#8216;not what he was&#8217; as ex-Gunner talks up two transfers to replace him<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cAt this stage, I don\u2019t think there are any favourites. Two teams who have made a positive path, we qualified in the top eight and there will be mutual respect. But I do believe our supporters, our fans, can make the difference and maybe beat a great team, maybe the best &#8211; or among the two or three best &#8211; in Europe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWe know we are facing a great team, a mistake can be fatal and so one second of distraction can cost you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gyokeres left Sporting for Arsenal for \u00a364million last summer after a protracted and sometimes ugly transfer saga. The Swede took time to adjust and may get a hot reception from the Sporting fans. But Borges insists there are no hard feelings and insists Gyokeres is a \u201cgreat player\u201d but has total faith that his defenders can stop him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Borges added: \u201cViktor is a great player but we cannot focus on just one player because they have many great players who can make a difference.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36765551\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36765551\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36765551.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2263051222.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36765551.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2263051222.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36765551.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2263051222.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36765551.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2263051222.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Viktor Gyokeres will face his old club on Tuesday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Viktor Gyokeres will face his old club on Tuesday<cite aria-label=\"Image: James Gill\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: James Gill\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTo stop Gyokeres, we have four great defenders and any one of them can do that. It will be a big challenge but we will be ready. I wish Viktor all the best and I\u2019m sure he will be very welcome back here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cHe had a great ambition and after talking to the management both sides got what they wanted. The player wanted to move, the club got what they wanted and Sporting will go on being a great club at European level as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cViktor had to adapt, there was a period of adaptation and given his characteristics it took time but he is back to his level now. It was natural that the fans were a bit suspicious because it took time to score goals but he is back to his best now as a great striker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em><\/a>  and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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