Rui Borges to stay on? Beto Pimparel says Sporting are getting more... | OneFootball

Beto Pimparel closely follows the current state of the lion's emblem and, while acknowledging that the team is going through a more demanding period this season, he emphasizes that the championship is far from decided. The former goalkeeper also highlights the work done by Rui Borges in leading the lions.

“I have a positive assessment of Rui Borges, national champion with Sporting. It's true that this year Sporting is facing more difficulties, but much of it is due to what Porto is doing, historically, at the start of this season, which has been almost perfect,” said Beto Pimparel, in statements to the newspaper Record, on the sidelines of the Taça da Liga Legends.

The former Portuguese international believes that the team should focus on its own competitive growth. “But, obviously, we can do well with the bad, and Sporting must focus a lot on itself, improving some things, and Rui Borges has been trying to find solutions. I believe Sporting has had better football moments, but it's part of it, there are ups and downs that somehow affect the dynamics of the teams. It's a management that Rui has had to do, and he's done it well. There's still a long way to go, many points at stake, and Sporting must try to minimize point losses until the end,” he added.

Beto Pimparel also addressed the situation of the lion's goal, expressing confidence in Rui Silva's choice to take on the starting position. “He brought what Sporting was missing, which was a goalkeeper with experience and the ability to withstand the pressure of playing for Sporting and fighting for titles. He came from a very competitive context, La Liga, was used to big stages and the demands of playing against the best teams in the world. It was what Sporting needed in that phase of uncertainty, and they found in Rui Silva a balanced, seasoned goalkeeper who provided a lot of stability.”

At 43, Beto continues to show that his connection to football remains intact. In the recent edition of the Taça da Liga Legends, the former goalkeeper was one of the standout figures of the tournament, contributing decisively to Sporting's victory and winning the award for best player of the competition, thanks to several decisive interventions.

“It is a great privilege and honor, even post-career, to be a ‘legend’ of the club that shaped me as an athlete and also as a person. I owe a lot to Sporting Clube de Portugal,” he confessed. Asked about the possibility of still competing at a professional level, he replied: “I feel I could play, my mind is well and my body keeps up, but obviously my time has passed. I enjoy these moments and above all to enjoy, because where I feel best is on the field, and I end up showing that passion I still have for training, playing, and competing.”

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