Rui Borges’ decisions questioned by former Sporting man: such a shame | OneFootball

Fernando Nélson believes that Sporting is suited to a three-center-back system and regrets Rui Borges’ change

Oct 13, 2025 | 08:15 |

Rui Borges stopped using three center-backs simultaneously in Sporting’s starting eleven. Fernando Nélson regrets the coach’s choice, believing that the squad is tailored for it, especially because players like Eduardo Quaresma and Jeremiah St. Juste lost their place with the change.

"Sporting had built its structure around a three-defender system and, for that reason, needed more center-backs in the squad. From the moment Rui Borges switched to just two, Quaresma and St. Juste, who is a great player, lost their place. It’s a shame to see those two players not participating in the games," he told the newspaper A Bola.

Fernando Nélson does not hide that the change implemented by Rui Borges is not to his liking: "Honestly, I preferred Sporting’s three-center-back system, it was more dynamic, it brought many victories and three championships, and for four years the team was shaped for the three-center-back system. Compared to today’s football, as it is, with its characteristics and dynamics, I think I would opt, at this moment, for three center-backs."

They are barely noticeable or not noticeable at all in the two-center-back system because teams block Sporting’s build-up play through those two players, and they go unnoticed on the pitch," he admitted.

Fernando Nélson, former right-back for Sporting, commented on the change implemented by Rui Borges, giving his opinion on it.

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