Sporting to face Leeds United, coach admits little time to prepare | OneFootball

Sporting will return to compete in the Premier League International Cup, a tournament for under-21 players. Placed in group D, the young lions, who will be guided by the under-23 coaching staff (who recently defeated Estoril), are preparing to play the first match this Thursday at 7:00 PM against Leeds United in York. The coach João Santos admits that “there wasn't really much preparation time.”

“We will go game by game, focusing on individual growth and having a competitive team. Against English clubs, we will encounter open games, with high intensity both with and without the ball and high pressure. We want to understand what this competition will offer these players,” he emphasized. The competition will promote a sequence of games and travel more akin to the weekly routine of the main team.

“It's a trend in modern football: training less and less. Going through these experiences at these stages of development is extremely valuable to understand how important pre- and post-training routines, rest, nutrition, hydration... All the indicators and factors that accelerate recovery,” highlighted the coach, who is nonetheless proud to participate in the tournament.

“We are very honored to be invited to participate in this tournament for the second time and eager to start,” said the under-23 assistant coach, in a preview given to Leoninos media, after discussing the benefits of having another international front in youth football.

“It is a different space from the UEFA Youth League, not only because we face, in the initial phase, only clubs from England, but also because of the age group. It is also different for the players, because here they will be with another coaching staff. There will be much to grow and absorb, with the aim of what matters most to us: preparing the players for the first team,” he pointed out.

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