Analysis
In the week of the ‘final four’ of the League Cup, Carlos Dias, SIC commentator, analyzes the current state of the four teams fighting, in Leiria, for a title that, at the moment, belongs to SC Braga.
Ruben Amorim is not going through a very happy moment as coach of Manchester United, but the could change the course of the sleeping giant, explains commentator Carlos Dias. Regarding the national competition that will be played this week, the argues that it will not be decisive for Bruno Lage and that it could contribute to Sporting’s resurgence.
Carlos Dias believes that the Manchester United team is “worth much more” than the modest 13th place it occupies in the Premier League league table. Proof of this? The result against the Anfield emblem.
“Obviously, and Bruno Fernandes made a point of mentioning, it had nothing to do with the coach. It has to do with the players, who have to understand that they have to give more on the field (…) In recent times, some players from the United always leave an image of a certain ease”, he argues.
In the meeting with Liverpool, Amorim’s men changed their attitude, “they didn’t let it go” and “put everything on the field” that the coach gave them.
In addition to the tactical issue, the commentator believes that, at the highest level, athletes have to perform and work “always at their best”.
“It’s still early” to consider Lage’s departure
Around here, this is the week of all decisions in the League Cup. FC Porto, Sporting, Benfica and SC Braga are discussing, between Tuesday and Wednesday, a place in the final, which will be played on Saturday, in Leiria.
With two consecutive defeats in the championship, the ‘eagles’ reach this ‘final four’ at a not very happy moment, but even so, Carlos Dias considers that “it is still too early to consider the scenario of a change of coach”:
“It seems to me that the line is starting to get thinner for Bruno Lage, but in any case I think that lighting up the League Cup won’t make Rui Costa change coaches now. Now, if the bad results continue, this is a scenario that will have to be on the table.”
Regarding Wednesday’s duel against Braga, the commentator emphasizes that the ‘reds’ are a better team than the Minho team, but “that obviously doesn’t stop Braga from winning the games, as happened last weekend “.
Note that there are, however, some “mysteries” in the Benfica squad:
“What happened to António Silva, who Juventus wants to sign, but who is of no use to Benfica? Otamendi is also increasingly insecure, a player of great quality, even though he is a little older, but who will still have obligation to perform much more. Tomás Araújo, young central defender, cannot be used for everything, but there are also other positions where it seems that there is some quality deficit here.”
Sporting players “they bought Rui Borges’ idea”
In the other semi-final, ‘lions’ and ‘dragons’ face each other. FC Porto, despite not having completed the 90 minutes of the game against Nacional, no longer arrives rested for Tuesday’s duel, notes the commentator.
The result will therefore be decided by a “matter of attitude towards the match and regularity during the game”.
Regularity that the ‘green and whites’ have lacked since Rúben Amorim’s departure, he recognizes.
“The players bought Rui Borges’ idea, but, in Guimarães, positive signs were first given, but then also very negative signs of some inconstancy, of some display irregularity”, he adds.
Carlos Dias also says that the Leonine squad now has the obligation to show “another Sporting on the pitch”.
“It seems to me that this game is more important for the Sporting team, of greater responsibility for the Sporting team, taking into account what has happened in Alvalade in recent weeks.”
