Rui Borges has warned Sporting CP of the threat posed by Arsenal ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg meeting on Tuesday night.
The Portuguese side welcome the English giants to the Jose Alvalade Stadium, with both sides hoping to gain momentum ahead of next week’s second leg encounter.
Arsenal head into the clash on the back of two consecutive defeats, losing to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final and also to Southampton last weekend.
However, Borges believes his side will not be overly confident heading into the clash, despite the visitors’ recent dip in form.
“Arsenal are a great team and they will be like a wounded beast tomorrow, more focused on their individual capacity”, Borges said.
“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.
“At this stage, I don’t 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 – or among the two or three best – in Europe.”
Arsenal recorded an emphatic 5-1 win over Sporting in their last visit during the league phase last season and another repeat of that result would give the Portuguese side a mountain to climb ahead of the return leg.
“We know we are facing a great team, a mistake can be fatal and so one second of distraction can cost you”, Borges said.
Sporting and Arsenal face-off later today, with the return leg set to hold next week Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium, while the winner of the last eight tie will go ahead to face Atletico Madrid or Barcelona in the semifinal.
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