Sporting CP ends season trophyless after cup final defeat

Sporting CP's season ended in disappointment, marked by a failure to secure any titles and a bitter cup final defeat against a team from the second division.

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If we don't win, it's because we don't deserve it, the opponent deserved it, was effective, unlike us.

The club's supporters made their frustration clear, booing and jeering the players as they accepted silver medals on the podium, a stark contrast to the anticipated Portuguese Cup victory. Coach Rui Borges found himself a target of the fans' discontent but understood their feelings.

"If we don't win, it's because we don't deserve it, the opponent deserved it, was effective, unlike us," Borges stated in the post-match press conference. He admitted the team did not perform to its potential, acknowledging that suffering an early goal created "distrust and mental fatigue." Borges emphasized the need for the team to be more proactive and intense, particularly in the final third of the pitch.

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We had to be more proactive than reactive, with more intensity in the final third.

Reflecting on the season, Borges labeled it "not positive" due to the lack of silverware. He stressed the importance of a cold, analytical approach to identify areas for improvement and ensure the team grows from this experience. "A team like ours has to understand how it can grow in the future and not end without a trophy," he added.

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The season ends up not being positive, but the way to value it was to finish with a title, we can't be happy.