Beto Pimparel defends Rui Silva, blames others for Napoli goals | OneFootball

Beto Pimparel does not believe in 'mistakes' on the part of Rui Silva in Napoli - Sporting, but rather some immaturity of the squad

October 3, 2025 | 12:02 |

Beto Pimparel was asked about Sporting's performance against Napoli, on the second matchday of the Champions League. The former goalkeeper of the lions agreed with the squad management made by Rui Borges and ended up absolving Rui Silva, blaming the rest of the team instead.

"Starting with the changes... there's always a lot at stake. I'm sure that Sporting, whether in questions of the I Liga, Champions or the Portuguese Cup, has in its DNA to always enter to discuss results, to win games. This will always be the basic principle of Sporting. Regarding the changes, I believe there is a lot that could be discussed here. Only Rui Borges and his squad will know why of this management. There are two trips and another very important fact. There are two games that can mean a lot for Sporting. First of all, their own game, with Braga's, and then the Classic, in which Sporting will gain points from someone or can gain points from both", he began by saying, in statements to Notícias ao Minuto.

"There's a lot that has to be managed here, never giving up, in my perspective, the basic principle that is Sporting entering the field to win all games. Nobody knew if there were players with fatigue, or if it was just tactical and technical management by Rui Borges. From the unfolding of the game, I think Sporting respected Napoli too much in the first phase of the game. However, it quickly became clear that the team had arguments for this Napoli", shot Beto Pimparel.

Then, the former Sporting goalkeeper spoke directly about Rui Silva: "It's true that goals always have to come from mistakes... the issue that a foul was not made, that's competitive maturity. Rui Silva's exit, it's part of the game and the goalkeeper's growth. Everyone will make mistakes. I could never point the defeat to an individual mistake. I never did it and much less to a goalkeeper. The most important thing is the issue of competitive maturity, knowing at what moment of the game the team is inserted, and understanding that a foul has to be made to reorganize, to protect itself. This is Sporting's growth at a European level. Personally, it leaves a lot to be desired, because, with the unfolding of the game, I realized that Sporting had arguments to leave Naples, in this case, with another result".

"I've been through the same thing of coming from an injury and having an important Champions League game. At the time, Mr. Unai Emery put me to play, even though I had been stopped for two or three weeks. The game had a very large emotional load and it was necessary to have players on the field in specific positions, with baggage, to also often withstand the game times and to also transmit this same experience to the rest of the team. I believe that's why Rui Borges put Rui Silva back in. For his experience, obviously, always for his quality, above all, but for his experience. Rui already has some experience at the level of European games, there is a very large synergy always between Rui and the defensive line. I don't mean to say that the other goalkeeper couldn't do it as well, or better, but we always start from the principle, that before the game, the coach will always want to put those who will give him more guarantees, not only of quality and performance, but also to manage what is a Champions game, and with a Napoli that is a great team", he concluded.

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