Sporting CP boss makes Arsenal pitch admission in response to Viktor Gyokeres comment

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Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres claimed the Emirates Stadium turf was "a bit dry" following his side's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday

Sporting CP boss Rui Borges has no concerns about the Emirates Stadium pitch after Viktor Gyokeres claimed it was "a bit dry" following Arsenal's defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.

Borges was asked about his former striker's comments ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final clash in north London but he urged his players to focus on the task at hand.

The 44-year-old said: "I don't know about the pitch because I haven't stepped on it. The pitch will be the same for both teams. I haven't read much, so I shouldn't be surprised; it's a statement from an opposing player."

Gyokeres raised eyebrows on Saturday when he mentioned the condition of the pitch during an interview with BBC MOTD.

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The Swede remarked when quizzed on Arsenal's failure to find an equaliser following several late half-chances: “They’re [Bournemouth] good on the counter-attacks. They have good players and made some good combinations. But we need to do better. We had some chances in the end.

"The pitch was a bit dry, which didn’t help. I’m very confident. We don’t need to get stuck too much on what happened today. We need to look forward and be positive.”

Borges does not feel Sporting are under any particular pressure to go and turn the tie around, indicating they will play with freedom in their quest to execute an upset.

They are still fighting for the Portuguese league title and have a game in hand on leaders Porto, who are currently five points clear at the summit.

Sporting also boast a 1-0 lead over Porto in the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal ahead of the second-leg, which will take place later this month.

Borges added ahead of facing Arsenal: “I’m very level-headed. I’m calm. What fuels us is ambition. We all have a lot of it, and that’s why we’re here. We’re among the top eight teams; maybe only we believed it.

"They are two great teams. It’s an important week, we’re at the end of the season, the decisions are increasingly important, but we’re involved in everything that’s meant to compete for trophies.

"That’s what defines a great Sporting, not what happens after the week. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it doesn’t erase Sporting’s season."