Tonel: Sporting player with ‘questionable’ management must deliver | OneFootball

Tonel was called upon to assess the Lions’ preparation for the match against Marseille, valid for the third round of the Champions League. The former Sporting player focused on Rui Borges’ defensive setup and also on the management of Eduardo Quaresma among the options for the most defensive sector of the green and white team.

“The team hasn’t been at its best, but the defensive phase involves all eleven players, not just the defenders. There are too many mistakes, whether individual or collective, at this stage of the season,” he began by saying, in statements to Deporto ao Minuto.

Next, Tonel reminded that Sporting “is under pressure to win,” but that it’s Marseille who arrive at Alvalade “as favorites”: “I repeat the idea that right now they are the best team in France, ahead of the current European champions. Given the recent past in more demanding matches, the fans are waiting for a victory at last, but if Sporting doesn’t win, I don’t think the pressure on Rui Borges will increase. It will all depend on how the team presents itself on the field and, of course, the final result.”

Regarding the possibility of Rui Borges returning to a three-man defense, Tonel said: “It’s an idea on the table, but the team needs to defend better, whether with two or three center-backs. For this game, Rui Borges has the final say, as it will depend on his strategy for the match. If he sets up a low block, then yes, the five-man line makes sense, but even if he keeps the same system (4x2x3x1), people need to understand that there are various nuances to the game and the opponent’s movements must be taken into account.”

Finally, the former Sporting player revealed who, in his opinion, are the best center-backs for the Lions at the moment: “Debast and Gonçalo Inácio offer the most guarantees. Diomande isn’t doing well, he struggled a lot in the match against Paços de Ferreira and doesn’t have match rhythm. Of course, he could be an option in a three-man defense, if that were the strategy, but I don’t rule out the option of Eduardo Quaresma. Strangely, he’s been a starter in the Champions League, even though he barely plays in the league.”

Regarding how Quaresma’s playing time is being managed, Tonel said: “That situation isn’t easy. I went through a similar situation as a player. Eduardo Quaresma has to be very strong mentally and highly motivated to prove himself. He’s called up to play without having the necessary match rhythm. The difficulty of Champions League matches is even greater than in the Primeira Liga, and he’s forced to respond when facing the best of the best.”

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