Miguel Mendes warns Rui Borges at Sporting: ‘He’ll be under the cosh’ | OneFootball

Miguel Mendes was in the studio analyzing Rui Borges’s situation and the moment the Lions’ team is going through. For the journalist from the newspaper A Bola, "the biggest vote of confidence given to Rui Borges was, a few months ago, when he renewed his contract and was offered a huge change of cycle at Sporting."

"I think this decision comes within the framework of Frederico Varandas’s firm commitment a few months ago, and that a departure at this stage would mean admitting a huge mistake on the part of the President. I think that is a factor that carries weight, because Rui Borges is clearly Frederico Varandas’s choice and I think he is a coach the President trusts, even if he is not a unanimous choice for everyone," he explained.

As for the upcoming matches, Miguel Mendes believes life will not be easy for the coach: "If you ask me whether Rui Borges will have a hard time from now on? He certainly will. He will have a ‘noose around his neck’ in every game, he will go through a difficult spell. A defeat, a setback, anything that might happen will be very complicated.

"It was impossible to change everything and have everything stay the same. Sporting ends up replacing the entire backbone of a team that was winning and had routines built over many years, many reference points in the squad, and all of that takes time to create and, by all indications, Rui Borges will be given a little more time - who will have a challenge during the international break - so that he can solidify some dynamics," he commented regarding this opportunity given to the Portuguese coach.

Miguel Mendes believes the biggest loss for the squad was Diomande. "In this whole Sporting transformation process, I believe the biggest mistake was Diomande, who was a key piece. He was the kind of player Sporting could not afford to let leave at this stage, he was an experienced player, with characteristics different from all the others."

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