Rui Borges Expresses Hope for Viktor Gyokeres’ Welcome at Sporting Lisbon
Head coach Rui Borges has expressed hope that Viktor Gyokeres will not face a hostile reception from the Sporting Lisbon fans when he returns to the club. Gyokeres, who is set to play against his former team in the Champions League quarter-final clash, is expected to be met with mixed reactions.
Gyokeres, a 27-year-old Sweden international, made a significant impact during his time at Sporting Lisbon, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances before moving to Arsenal for a reported £64 million last summer. Despite his success at the Portuguese club, it is anticipated that he may receive a less-than-welcoming response during his return.
However, Borges remains optimistic about how the fans will treat Gyokeres. He said: “He is a great player, and I am sure he will be welcomed by everyone because he marked the history of Sporting, and he deserves this acknowledgment.”
Borges also emphasized the mutual understanding between the club and the player. He added: “I always try to be balanced, and I try to understand everyone. He had the ambition, and after talking to the management, they came to an understanding so ultimately everything that happened was correct for both sides; both Sporting and the player got what they wanted. He wanted to take that step in his career and we respect that.”
Despite the potential challenges, Borges believes that the club will continue to thrive. He said: “Players will change, but the club stays the same, and Sporting will go on winning. I wish him (Gyokeres) all the best and I am sure he will be very welcome here because the admiration we have for him is great.”
Gyokeres’ Performance at Arsenal
Gyokeres faced some initial difficulties adapting to life at Arsenal, but he has started to find his form. So far, he has managed to score 17 goals for the club. His recent performance as a substitute in Arsenal’s FA Cup exit against Southampton showed signs of his growing confidence.
Borges commented on Gyokeres’ journey at Arsenal, saying: “I believe in the initial stage he had to adapt, given the style of play, and how Arsenal plays. But he is still a great forward and now he is back to what he does well which is scoring goals.”
He also acknowledged the initial skepticism from Arsenal fans, adding: “During the first stage, the (Arsenal) fans were suspicious given what they paid for him, but little by little the truth came to the surface and he is a really great player and he will keep scoring goals.”
Challenges Ahead for Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon faces a tough challenge as they prepare to take on Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Gunners have recently experienced back-to-back defeats, including a loss to Southampton following their Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City.
When asked if now is the ideal time to face Mikel Arteta’s side, Borges responded: “No, I don’t believe that. It is a great team, and great teams always want to win. They want to be in all competitions.”
He continued: “They will be like a wounded beast tomorrow. They will be more focused, more willing to show their collective and individual capacity.”
Borges acknowledged the difficulty of facing a motivated Arsenal side but remained confident in his team’s ability. He said: “Frankly, I think it will make things more difficult for us the fact that they have not had the best two last matches. But Arsenal will be facing a very motivated team. We believe we can do something extraordinary tomorrow, something that has never been done by Sporting.”
