Tiago André insists Sporting player should be dropped to the B team | OneFootball

Salvador Blopa is one of the most talked-about topics this week, thanks to his brace in the official debut for Sporting. Tiago André, one of the first coaches of the young lion at the Lisbon University Hub, described the 18-year-old player as a "modern full-back. He scores goals, provides assists, and has a great offensive propensity."

However, the current coach of the secondary team of Beira-Mar believes that Blopa should remain with Alvalade's 'B' team: "It's important for Salvador to continue training with the main team and playing in the B team. Especially because, in the specific case of Sporting, the B team is doing a very good job, the squad has a very low average age for what's normal, and the 2nd League is quite competitive. This is super important for his development. After all, he's competing against seasoned players, which will demand significant growth from him. In that environment, he will be able to make mistakes, evolve, and gain a more complete understanding of the game."

In statements to the newspaper Record, the Portuguese coach reiterated his point, insisting that Blopa "is in his normal process, paving his way. Some coaches argue that for a player to be ready to represent one of the big three in the 1st League, he needs to play an average of 60 games in the 2nd League."

Furthermore, Tiago André expressed surprise at the evolution of the young Sporting player: "I had the opportunity to see him play twice, last season in the 3rd League, and this season, I watched his game against Portimonense on TV. His evolution surprised me, especially in the defensive aspect. The best compliment I can give? It would be great for Portuguese football to have a winger with the characteristics that Salvador has shown."

In conclusion, the coach offered further praise: "Salvador scores goals, provides assists, and is influential in the team's offensive flow. Both in the B team and, on Tuesday, in the main team. These are the indicators that coaches look at today. Increasingly, numbers are crucial in the recruitment or selection of a player."

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