SPORTING : Domingos: "A successful 2012"

Domingos Paciência was on hand this Sunday to share his thoughts on Sunday's League Cup encounter with Rio Ave.

"I made the same wish that everybody made for new year: that we be successful, happy and healthy. That is fundamental. Obviously everybody wants us to be successful and that is what I am hoping for 2012. It would be a great source of pride for us and we are going to work hard towards that. However, I have been saying the same thing since day one, which is that this is a new team that has only been together for six months. We have to be realistic and that means that we can't put the same responsibilities on our shoulders that FC Porto and Benfica have. They both have well defined structures and they don't make many changes. We are fully aware that we can do bigger and better things than those that have been done over the last two years", began the Alvalade boss, going on to move the focus away from next weekend's encounter with FC Porto and onto Monday evening's game: "The media really started talking early about the game with FC Porto, but before that we have an important game in Vila do Conde against a strong team. We have had a tough time there already this year, so we know what could happen. This game is fundamental to our objectives, so we have to be serious and do our best. Games can make or break confidence and we are looking to build on our confidence levels."

Xandão on the Alvalade radar

Youngster Renato Neto has already made his return to the Sporting squad, but a variety of other names have also been suggested as of late by the media. However, Domingos preferred to play his cards close to his chest relative to rumours surrounding a move for Xandão.

"Things like that have already been talked about between me Luís Godinho Lopes, Carlos Freitas and Luís Duque. We started the season with three forwards and then all of a sudden we were left with two because of the exits of Postiga and Yannick. Now we are left with just Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Bojinov and Diego Rubio, so we have to address that and we will talk about it when we have something to talk about. Money doesn't grow on trees after all. Xandão is a player that we know about. When the season starts, we begin preparing for December and June, so it is only normal that certain players be observed by Sporting."

Talking about the return of Renato Neto, after having his loan deal with Cercle Brugge cut short, the coach said: "He is a player that will add to the squad and he will help fill the hole left by Luís Aguiar. He is a player that is going to help the team, but I don't want to say that he is about to overshadow João Mário, João Carlos, Chaby or any other player that could come into the team."

The coach was also asked to elaborate on the situation of Polga, with the veteran centre-back's contract coming to and end at the end of the season: "Above all else, I like to talk to my players face to face. I try to be consistent and I try to motivate my players day-in-day-out. It is me that manages the team and I know how my players are feeling. They are enjoying their work and are happy to be doing what they are doing. What happens in June or December all depends on decisions that are still to be taken."

To finish, the Sporting coach made a point of naming André Villas Boas as his choice for the best coach of 2011: "If you asked me who was the best last year, then I would say André Villas-Boas. He had a great year, coming from a smaller team and going on to win the League, Europa League and Portuguese Cup. I am also aware that I was one of the stand out figures of last year and I am really proud of that. With a team that didn't have the financial punch as others I took part in the Champions League and got to the final of the Europa League. I am really proud of that."