Former international is sure: Sporting will sack Rui Borges | OneFootball

Delfim believes that Rui Borges is in a situation similar to the one Augusto Inácio faced at Sporting in the early 2000s and admits that the Lions’ coach could come under heavy pressure if the start of next season does not meet the fans’ expectations.

In an interview with the newspaper Record, the former green-and-white midfielder began by highlighting the work done by the green-and-white coach, recalling that he took charge of the team at a particularly delicate moment in the season.

"Without wanting to offend anyone, I see Rui Borges as somewhat similar to Augusto Inácio. The context is different. But Augusto Inácio took over a team that had worked very hard. He arrived at a stage when that fatigue translated into greater physical sharpness than their rivals, and he got everything out of that. Rui Borges got everything out of the team after that loss of confidence during the 8 games under João Pereira’s leadership. He managed it because of the way he is, a simple, calm person who seems like a friend to the players," he said.

Asked about the Lions coach’s personality, Delfim acknowledged his calmness, but feels there is a difference compared to Ruben Amorim: "Yes. But there must be something missing there that Amorim has, or had. I’m not saying he is worse or better, but it is reflected in this loss of the team’s effectiveness," explained the former Portugal international.

"Under normal circumstances, if he fails at the start of next season – if by the 6th or 7th matchday Sporting are in 3rd or 4th place, 4, 5 or 6 points behind 1st – Rui Borges will be sacked. That’s what happened with Inácio [in 2000/01, on matchday 13]," he said.

Asked whether that scenario might be inevitable, Delfim was direct in his response: "He knows that. Nothing against him, but there is no long-term project for a coach. A coach is about the moment, about maintaining that moment, and nothing more than that."

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