Former Sporting president blasts cup final: a disgrace, they were awful | OneFootball

On the sidelines of the dinner celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Sporting Supporters' Club of Portimão, Sousa Cintra assessed the Club’s current situation and the season that has just ended, making several criticisms of the recent past while also showing renewed confidence in the Lions’ future, at a time when the Alvalade club is already preparing for the new season.

“The past was a disgrace, especially in the way we lost the Portuguese Cup. It was unfair and it was shameful. They played terribly.” Even so, the former president said he was convinced that Sporting are on the right path to competing for titles again, highlighting the work being done to strengthen the squad and the unity of the group.

“Sporting always fight to be champions under any circumstances. Last year, things went badly, but there’s no point talking about the past. The past is the past. Sporting are strengthening with good players. Important players leave, but others come in. I’m convinced that next year, Sporting really can be champions again. They have a team for that, the team is united, it is strong, and the past must be forgotten. We have to put things right and think about the future. We will try to win the league and every possible cup. In a united way and with the reinforcements the president has already secured. We are on the right track.”

On the coach’s future and the internal decisions within Sporting’s structure, Sousa Cintra avoided controversy and chose instead to highlight Frederico Varandas’ leadership: “It is the President’s decision. President Frederico Varandas has been leading Sporting very well. The results are fantastic. He wanted to keep the coach, that is his decision and there is no point commenting on it. What matters is that we all stand united. Unity is strength, and that is what Sporting need.”

The former director also again set high ambitions for the new season: “It would be great for Sporting to be champions again. They have never been European champions. Sporting have great talent in their squad and I believe they will improve a little more in the next Champions League. Let’s believe and have confidence.”

On top of that, Sousa Cintra strongly criticised the National Team’s performance at the 2026 World Cup: “It is an absolute disgrace. I still have to understand how Portugal, which has some of the best coaches in the world, is going to appoint a Spanish national team coach who has never won anything in his life. Personally, I am against that. But anyway, we are already near the end of the road. If Portugal do not become world champions, it is exclusively the coach’s fault. In this last match it was a disgrace and the blame lies solely with the coach. The Spaniard really should not continue. I do not even understand how the federation president is going to hire a Spanish national team coach who had never won anything in his life. The result is there for all to see.”

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