Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Silva credited his team’s collective effort and resilience for securing a crucial Champions League draw against Juventus, downplaying individual praise for his standout performance.
Silva made several vital saves during the 1-1 draw in Turin, most notably stopping a header from Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the first half. His heroics were widely recognized, including by teammate Pote, who offered to present him with the “Man of the Match” award.
Speaking to Sport TV, Silva expressed gratitude for the gesture but insisted the accolade belonged to the entire squad.
“I thank Pote for handing over the award, it’s not mine, it’s for the team, for the group we have,” Silva said. “It shows the resilience and unity we have. I want to thank Pote for that gesture.”
When asked about his impressive save against Vlahovic, Silva attributed it to extensive preparation.
“A lot of work, reflexes, reaction,” he stated. “Fortunately, I managed to be effective, and that’s the most important thing.”
The goalkeeper reflected on the demanding nature of top-tier European football.
“I try to do my job,” he added. “There are moments when I succeed, others when it might not go as well as in the game in Naples. The important thing is to always be prepared for these moments and to play this competition, which is the most beautiful club competition.”
Silva acknowledged the difficulty of facing a strong opponent like Juventus on their home turf.
“We knew the difficulty of playing here in this scenario against a great team, playing at home,” Silva explained. “The team showed a lot of personality and we managed to have possession in many moments.”
He praised Sporting’s ability to withstand pressure.
“We were resilient and had the capacity to suffer when we didn’t have the ball,” he noted. “The important thing is the point earned in this journey. It turns out to be a fair result.”
With a few matches remaining in the group stage, Sporting aims to maintain its momentum.
“We approach every game to win,” Silva affirmed. “We know it’s difficult; we have eight games with an extremely high degree of difficulty. We will focus on the next game and win the three points.”