MD-1. Alongside Vítor Bruno, Mihajlo Cvetković spoke to the press ahead of the return leg against Kairat Almaty. The Mauves secured a 0-3 victory in Kazakhstan, but underestimating the return leg would be a mistake, the coach warned: “That would be a lack of respect for the opponent and for the work we put in every day.” Watch the full press conference on Mauve TV.
The Serbian striker was first to take the floor, but when asked whether he would leave the Mauves this summer, the coach answered on his behalf: “No.” A clear answer, which Mihajlo Cvetković backed up. “My full focus is on RSCA. I’m doing my best to help the team, that’s my job. I’m ready for tomorrow’s game.”
The striker is also refusing to underestimate the return leg. “Thinking about the League Phase? No, we’re not doing that because the job isn’t finished yet. We’re hungry again and looking forward to playing in front of a sold-out Lotto Park.” The Serbian also does not want to look ahead to Sunday’s derby against Union. “We’re not thinking about Sunday, our full focus is on tomorrow’s game. Every day, in every training session, we have to stay focused. That’s what the coach expects from us.”
The Portuguese coach echoed his striker’s words. “If you are professional every day, there will come a day when you reap the rewards of that hard work. The last thing we can do now is underestimate tomorrow’s game. That would be a lack of respect, both for the opponent and for the work we put in every day.” Vítor Bruno is expecting a tough battle against Kairat Almaty. “I think they will do everything they can to get a result. In football, anything can happen; that has been proven many times in the past. We have to stay loyal to our plan and keep doing what we have to do.”
The coach is therefore not considering rotating his starting eleven. “It’s important to win and I never just give players minutes. Based on our analysis of the opponent, we decide who plays. Substitutes are often more decisive than the players who start, so you can never focus solely on the starting XI.” Lucas Hey, Killian Sardella and Ilay Camara remain injured and will not be available against Kairat. Moussa N’Diaye is also a doubt. Tawfik Bentayeb, the Mauves’ latest signing, is still waiting for his work permit and is training individually. “Whether he can play against Union depends on whether his permit is sorted in time and, of course, whether I decide to play him,” the coach added with a smile.
In a sold-out Lotto Park, Sporting will look to secure qualification for the Europa League League Phase. “But the job is only halfway done. We’re at half-time, so to speak, and in football you can never win a game at half-time,” the coach concluded. See you on Thursday, 27 August, on Mauve TV for the second half of RSCA - Kairat Almaty.