Sporting manager claims Arsenal star ‘was the best player on the pitch’ after Champions League defeat

Apr 8, 2026 - 04:00

LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 07: Rui Borges, Head Coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal, speaks to the media in a post match press conference following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 07, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) — Rui Borges hailed David Raya after Sporting CP’s defeat to Arsenal (UEFA via Getty)

Sporting CP head coach Rui Borges hailed David Raya as ‘the best player on the pitch’ after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Kai Havertz’s goal in injury time sealed a late victory for Mikel Arteta’s side in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

But the Gunners needed an excellent performance from Raya to keep a clean sheet as the Spaniard made several fine saves to keep Sporting at bay.

Raya was named UEFA’s Player of the Match for his display and Borges agrees that the Arsenal goalkeeper was the game’s standout star.

‘Yes, I would say David Raya that was the best player on the pitch today because we had some really, really good chances to score but he made some superb saves,’ Borges told Prime Video.

‘Our goalkeeper Rui [Silva] wasn’t overly troubled and it was a pretty equal game at the Emirates.’

LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 07: David Raya of Arsenal poses for a photo with the PlayStation Player Of The Match award after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 07, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) — David Raya was named UEFA’s Player Of The Match in Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Sporting CP (UEFA via Getty)

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Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres was given a warm ovation by Sporting’s fans following the first game against his former club since his £64.8m move to Arsenal last summer.

Asked about his interaction with Gyokeres after the final whistle, Borges said: ‘I just asked if they were okay, if his family was okay. That I was happy for him.

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres applauds the fans following victory in the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon. Picture date: Tuesday April 7, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Zed Jameson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. — Viktor Gyokeres was applauded off the pitch by Sporting CP suporters (PA)

‘He deserves recognition, he helped me immensely to become national champion, he gave everything while he was here, he made history at Sporting and in the Portuguese championship, and he’s always welcome. He deserves to be applauded.’

Sporting’s 21-year-old forward Rafael Nel also paid tribute to Gyokeres after the match.

‘Gyokeres said a few words. He was happy for me and I’m happy for him,’ Nel said.

‘He’s an idol to me, I’ll see him next week and we’ll play the game with everything we’ve got. We have nothing to fear, the team is confident and we’ll play well there.’

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