Sporting figure backs Diomande’s return to end fatal errors | OneFootball

Despite not yet having returned to competition, Ousmane Diomande is already fit and will end up 'strengthening' Rui Borges' team after the international break. Carlos Xavier, a former Sporting player, expressed his satisfaction with the recovery of the Ivorian international.

"He is a player who has a significant presence in the box, especially in set pieces, situations in which Sporting concedes too many goals. It's always a great distress in the box in these types of situations. It seems like they are afraid to jump, afraid to go into the clash," he began, speaking to Record newspaper, highlighting the problems of the Lions against Braga.

"In the last game this limitation was very evident. Then, fatal errors are made. In all free kicks at the edge of the box and corner kicks, Sporting shows difficulties in marking, in aerial duels and continues to concede goals," he further reinforced, showing that he does not doubt that Diomande, "being at 100%", will be "the starter on the right side of the center of defense" for the green and whites.

Next, Carlos Xavier discussed the imminent return of Nuno Santos, after almost a year out due to injury: "He is a heavy reference, for everything he has already demonstrated in service of Sporting and for the importance he had in the club's most recent achievements".

"It was almost a year, he was out for a long time. He will have difficulty regaining form, but with work he will manage," continued the former Lions player, before taking stock of this season's start: "It has been a season of ups and downs, but I am of the opinion that, having the whole squad available, Sporting will be closer to earning more points, more victories. In short, it will be closer to success".

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