Ex-Sporting man advises Rui Borges on Champions League defence | OneFootball

Sporting will face Marseille next Wednesday, October 22. Tonel, a former player of the lions, was called to preview the match for the third round of the Champions League and ended up suggesting to Rui Borges which defenders are most prepared to play.

"The team has not been at its best, but the defensive moment involves all eleven players, not just the defenders. There are too many errors, whether individual or collective, at this stage of the season", he began by saying, in statements to Deporto ao Minuto.

Next, Tonel reminded that Sporting "has the pressure to win", but it is Marseille who arrives at Alvalade "with the status of favorite": "I repeat the idea that it is currently the best team in France, ahead of the current European champion. Given the recent past in more demanding games, the fans are finally expecting a victory, but if Sporting does not win, I do not consider that the pressure on Rui Borges will increase. Everything will depend on how the team presents itself on the field and, of course, on the final result".

Regarding the possibility of Rui Borges returning to a line of three defenders, Tonel said: "It is an idea on the table, but the team needs to defend better, whether with two or three central defenders. For this game, Rui Borges has the final say, as it will depend on his strategy for the game. If he presents a low block, then yes, the line of five makes sense, but even if he presents the same system (4x2x3x1), people need to understand that there are various nuances of the game and that the opponent's movements need to be taken into account".

Finally, the former Sporting player revealed who, in his opinion, are the best central defenders of the lions at the moment: "Debast and Gonçalo Inácio offer greater guarantees. Diomande is not well, he had many difficulties in the game against Paços de Ferreira and does not show match rhythm. Of course, he could be an option in the trio of central defenders, if that were the strategy, but I do not rule out the option of Eduardo Quaresma. Strangely, he has been a starter in the Champions League, when he barely plays in the championship".

Regarding how Quaresma's usage is being managed, Tonel said: "This situation is not easy. I went through a similar situation as a player. Eduardo Quaresma has to be very strong mentally and have great motivation to show his worth. He is called to play without having the necessary rhythm. The difficulty of the Champions League matches is even greater than the I Liga, and he is required to respond when facing the best of the best."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.