Hélder Amaral on Sporting: Not bad luck, more like incompetence | OneFootball

Hélder Amaral gave an exclusive interview to our Journal, addressing various topics within the Sporting universe. The former member of the Leonine Council harshly criticized the management led by Frederico Varandas, Rui Borges, and the squad management, stating that the successive injuries and lack of alternatives are compromising the Club's competitiveness.

The former CDS-PP deputy does not mince words when analyzing the wave of physical problems: “This is not normal. This is no longer bad luck, it's more incompetence. The prolonged time, compared to other clubs, and the above-average recurrences show that there is no serious evaluation and preparation regarding the last season. This is happening for the second time, on the same scale, practically in the same season, and with some of the same players. Someone needs to explain what is going on,” he begins by saying.

The lack of full-backs and the waste of internal talents is another criticism: “We don't have full-backs up to Sporting's standards. When more is needed, we don't have it. There are players at home, at zero cost, who had already shown good signs in pre-seasons, like Afonso Moreira, but he was sold. And then we bring in players from outside, like Ricardo Mangas, Biel, or Allison, of the same age and incomparably less quality than what we already have. That doesn't make sense. Someone has to explain to the fans why internal options are wasted and external signings are made without criteria.”

In his analysis, coach Rui Borges is the main responsible for the current situation: “Rui Borges is that 'weak king who makes strong people weak.' The coach should be the first to intervene, to realize that this cycle of injuries is not normal, but he doesn't. Any quality coach, with personality and ambition, would have told his administration: 'not like this.' He accepts to train under these circumstances and does not impose himself on the squad's problems, nor does he make firm decisions to protect the players and the team.”

After the arrival of Luis Guilherme, Hélder Amaral emphasizes that new players are needed in January: “I think it's more a strategy that works well than a complete consolidation plan. We cannot continue to have recurring injuries and questionable choices in the squad. If we want to remain competitive and still fight for titles, we must recognize the squad's limitations and strengthen it”.

The former deputy concludes with a direct warning to the SAD: “Sporting needs transparency, competence, and courage to face these situations. If nothing changes, the season could be seriously compromised. The Club still has the conditions to fight for first place, but it is necessary to act firmly, seize opportunities, and correct mistakes. Without this, we will always be repeating the same problems and relying on luck, and that is not acceptable for a club like Sporting,” he concludes.

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