Rui Borges must give Sporting a ‘shake-up’, but faces a big problem | OneFootball

Sporting Sporting need a real shock treatment after the draws with Famalicão and Arouca, amid growing unrest among the fans and doubts surrounding Rui Borges. The problem is that the coach will face enormous difficulties in working decisively on that reaction during the FIFA break: only six first-team players will be at Alcochete.

Rui Borges will have Kaique, Eduardo Quaresma, João Simões, Pedro Lima, Luís Guilherme and Sergi Altimira available when training resumes. Of them all, only the Spanish midfielder has been a regular in Sporting’s starting XI, which greatly limits the possibility of collectively correcting the problems shown in recent matches.

The situation comes at a particularly sensitive moment. The Lions let leads slip against Famalicão and Arouca, recorded two consecutive draws, and Rui Borges has seen criticism around him grow, although he has meanwhile received a vote of confidence from the board led by Frederico Varandas.

Under normal circumstances, the break could be used to work in depth on game management, defensive balance and the team’s ability not to lose control after taking the lead. But 17 players have been called up by their respective national teams, leaving the coach with virtually none of Sporting’s usual core.

Among the absentees is Iván Fresneda, promoted to Spain’s senior squad after Pedro Porro’s injury. The right-back celebrated his first call-up to La Roja’s top level, describing the moment as “a dream come true” and also leaving a message of support for the former Sporting player.

Issa Doumbia will also be away from Alcochete after being called up to the Italian national team. The Sporting midfielder’s call-up made headlines in Italy, where his shared journey with Mohamed Ali Zoma since their youth days at Albinoleffe was recalled.

Rui Borges is therefore expected to turn to several Academy youngsters to complete training during this period. The aim is to start preparing right away for the trip to Braga, scheduled for October 9, but the desired shock treatment will inevitably be limited until the internationals return.

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