Tiago Teixeira says Rui Borges has two gems at Sporting: quality boost | OneFootball

The revolution underway in the Sporting squad also includes a close eye on the academy. After a few weeks of observation, Rui Borges decided to promote Flávio Gonçalves and Rafael Nel - who could leave- to the first team. Tiago Teixeira is full of praise for the young Lions.

"They can add quality, talent and boldness to this squad. I believe that, at this stage, they are not the first options to start the season, but it is essential for the team to have quality solutions to meet the different demands of the campaign. In addition, their presence raises the competitive level in training and in the dressing room, bringing in ambitious players who want to develop and fight every day for a place in the starting eleven," began the former B team coach in an exclusive interview with Desporto ao Minuto.

The 44-year-old coach, currently in charge of Al-Wasl's under-23 team in the United Arab Emirates, also stressed that the two academy youngsters will have to wait for the right opportunity to show they can be assets. "It is to be expected that, in an initial phase, both Rafael Nel and Flávio Gonçalves will have few opportunities to start matches, considering that Luis Suárez and Rodrigo Zalazar are, theoretically, undisputed starters in their respective positions," it reads.

However, Tiago Teixeira believes the players can be the immediate backups to Suárez and Zalazar. "However, I see them as the main alternatives for those roles, offering quality and distinctive characteristics whenever it is necessary to freshen up the team or change the dynamics of the game," he said.

The coach stresses that Rui Borges will have the right plan to get the best out of Flávio and Nel. "I am convinced that coach Rui Borges will know better than anyone how to bring out the best qualities in both of them. They have been integrated into the first team since the first day of pre-season, allowing them to adapt to the demands of the competitive environment and accelerate their growth process," he said.

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