14 years on, Bojinov recalls unhappy Sporting episode: We all make mistakes | OneFootball

Valeri Bojinov, a former Sporting player, played only 16 games, but his time there was marked by an incident that led to his departure from Alvalade, when he prevented Matías Fernández from taking a penalty, which resulted in the team's elimination from the League Cup. 14 years later, the former footballer apologized to the fans and praised the Alvalade Club.

"Portugal is a unique country for me. It was an honor, a pleasure, a privilege, and a respect to get to know the traditions, the people, the mentality, the cuisine, and above all, the culture. Lisbon is an incredible city, the climate is wonderful, sunny. I can only thank for the wonderful moments in Portugal and especially for the incredible people of Lisbon," he began by saying in an interview with the newspaper A Bola.

When questioned about the penalty he missed after preventing Matías Fernández from taking it—which led to a disciplinary process—the former Juventus player ended up apologizing: "Look... I can only thank Sporting for everything. It was an honor to play for one of the most high-profile teams in Portugal, with fantastic fans. Then I can only say one thing: we are human. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to understand them and acknowledge them. If I offended anyone, especially the fans, now is the time to apologize for the situation and the incident. I apologize. Sporting is a great club, the fans are incredible. To the club and fans, I wish all the best, with my heart and soul."

Next, Bojinov analyzed his career, as he brought some experience when he arrived at Alvalade. The former player spoke about the adaptation process: "I played in what I consider the strongest league in terms of tactics and physicality, the Italian one. Playing with great players in clubs like Juventus, Fiorentina, Lecce, but also Manchester City and Parma. But honestly, when I arrived in Lisbon, in the Portuguese league, I thought it would be much easier, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Football in Portugal is very dynamic, fast, very technical, and it was difficult to adapt. I honestly underestimated the situation and didn't approach it with respect and dignity. It was really difficult. There are many strong players in Portugal. Today I think it was an honor to play for Sporting because of the fans it has. And I bow to them."

Finally, the former Sporting player was asked if he felt pressure at Alvalade and Juventus: "The fans demand it. The winning mentality is always present. Only victory and the three points matter, nothing else. They force you to always be at the top, to be champions, to be winners at all times. This is the history of these clubs, and that's why I love this game."

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