Moutinho backs Sporting to come good

With Sporting Clube de Portugal having lost 5-0 at home to FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League a fortnight ago, midfielder João Moutinho told uefa.com users in the Talk Football chatroom that the Lisbon club must "learn from our mistakes" in Tuesday's second leg in Germany. The 22-year-old also shared his thoughts on the future, working under Paulo Bento and why he wears the No28 shirt.

Naid: Do you think Sporting can beat Bayern?

João Moutinho: We need to be patient. We know Bayern have an excellent team, are very strong and fast in attack. And we must learn from the mistakes we made in the first leg. I think we can get a good result in Munich.

Trigger: What do you think best explains what went wrong against Bayern in the first leg?

Moutinho: We started well, had the first chances – Philipp Lahm blocked a shot from Anderson Polga on the line – but we made a few mistakes and the quality of the Bayern players did the rest. We wanted a better result and Bayern, who are a very experienced team, capitalised on our mistakes. After the second or third goal we needed more patience and organisation so that we could still fight for qualification.

eva.abrantes: Is there one Champions League final, even from when you were a boy, which stands out and makes you realise how big the competition is?

Moutinho: I remember one very well, Milan against Liverpool [in 2005]. An extraordinary game, full of emotion. I was already playing for the Sporting youth team, but it was incredible the way the Liverpool players turned the game around. The unpredictability of football is part of what makes you enjoy watching it.

Goiaba: You are one of the symbols of Sporting's academy, which is recognised as being one of the best in the world. What do you think of UEFA's and FIFA's stance in protecting home-grown players?

Moutinho: Of course I agree with them. It's very important. It's important that clubs have a base formed in the academies, like Sporting. It's where it must start in order to have good players and make good money from transfers. To keep youngsters is always better because they will create roots and the team will get better and better.

Naid: What do you think about Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribéry, and who is the best of the two?

Moutinho: They are different players, two great players. I think Ronaldo is better, but not because he is Portuguese. Last season he proved his worth and I think he will do it again in the future.

eva.abrantes: Back in your younger days at Lagoa, was there a role model who influenced you to become a successful player?

Moutinho: I liked football because my father was a professional. After growing up, I admired João Pinto and Rui Costa and, internationally, Zidane of course.

Alex: Did you ever have any doubts that you were going to be a footballer when you were young?

Moutinho: I never had any doubts about what I wanted to be – none. That was my will, that was what I've always worked for. I've always had the support to achieve it and I never skipped a year in class, which was very important. When I came to the 12th grade I had to choose: I think I made a good choice because I've always wanted to be a professional player.

Starballs: What other career option would you have chosen if football wasn't part of your life?

Moutinho: I would certainly have stayed in school. It's always important, especially when your future is uncertain. One thing that I wanted, but it wasn't possible, was to get a degree in physical education.

Cork_Blade: If you were to move abroad at some point in the future, do you think you'd adapt well to life in another country? Do you speak any other languages?

Moutinho: If it happens, I am sure the adaptation process will be normal and would be helped by the people around me. I know basic English, but think that another language would come easily.

Cork_Blade: Do you enjoy it more in the centre of midfield or out wide?

Moutinho: I've always said that the position where I've played most often, and where I feel most comfortable, is in a central position. Of course, the decision is with the coach because he knows what is the best for the team. To play wide is not strange for me, I've done it many times, and I'm always available to help the team.

Ultrastars: Do you love the club you play for? Will that make any difference in any choice you have to make in the future?

Moutinho: The club is always more important to me. Sporting are a great club. Every player obviously has an ambition to further himself but if I ever leave I will be extremely grateful to Sporting because it was the club that launched my career.

Starballs: Did you choose your squad number at Sporting, and if so what is the reason for 28?

Moutinho: I've always liked the number eight. When I came into Sporting's first team, Pedro Barbosa was number eight. I was given the chance to choose between some numbers and chose the one that had eight in it. Then things went well and I decided not to change – it's mine now.

Krithisbest: I wanted to ask you about Paulo Bento as a coach, as he has done a great job at Sporting. What are his strengths and do you think he can follow Carlos Queiroz and José Mourinho and join a big club outside Portugal?

Moutinho: Paulo Bento has been doing a great job. You always need some luck, but Paulo Bento has proved how good he is as a coach. One of his strengths is the way he communicates with players, the way he motivates us. I think he can go to another top club, since he's young and has the quality to coach the best clubs in Europe, following in the footsteps of Queiroz and Mourinho.

Starballs: Is there a difference between playing huge games in Portugal and in European competition?

Moutinho: They're different games and different competitions, but we want to win them all no matter who the opposition are. To play in the Champions League or the UEFA Cup is great. For a player it is always more exciting. In derbies, we know that a win is very important for the fans but we only have two games per season against [SL Benfica], and we also need to win the other Liga games.