I’m back once more with another chapter from my Sporting CP story. We’re heading into the business end of the season, but if you want to catch up first, you can read Part 4 using the link provided.
Today’s chapter will begin with a round-up of the January transfer window, followed by all our results from February and March – including the Taça de Portugal Semi Final against Marítimo.
We’ll also welcome in a new youth intake right at the end. Judging by the preview above, we probably shouldn’t expect a golden generation…
TRANSFER WINDOW
Our January transfer window was a quiet one. I sold a couple of reserve players, including midfielder Bruno Paulista, who after a year on loan in Brazil was flogged off to Reading for €1.3million. Despite receiving offers for wing-backs Marcos Acuña (from Napoli and Ajax) and Valentin Rosier (from Hoffenheim), we kept hold of them both.
I also made two signings, both with the future in mind:
I’ve been tracking French right-back Nolan Galves for a while, and I finally prised him from Sochaux for €550,000. The 17-year-old has well-rounded attributes in all the right places and has the potential to be significantly better than his countryman Rosier. Nolan immediately goes into our Under-23s squad and will probably be loaned out next season.
My other new signing is also only 17 and won’t arrive until July, but I’m already looking forward to working with Marcelo Caccia. The Argentina Under-20s goalkeeper’s contract at Newell’s was expiring in the summer, so I maybe could’ve signed him on a free transfer. However, with Arsenal and Wolves both sniffing around, I didn’t want to wait until it was too late, so I coughed up €2million to get the deal done quickly.
You can probably understand why I think so much of Marcelo. He’s agile, intelligent, resolute and handles the ball well, even if his technique on the ball isn’t quite up to ‘sweeper keeper’ standards yet. Over time, I believe Caccia could become even better than Luís Maximiano – and that’s saying something!
SPORTING vs MARÍTIMO (Taça de Portugal – Semi Final, Leg 1)
Our vertical tiki-taka always found José Gomes’ 5-4-1 diamond hard to break down, so I adopted my ‘Plan B’ – the direct 4-2-4 – for this cup Semi. It didn’t start off too well.
A poor headed clearance from Eray Cömert in the 19th minute was punished by Marítimo playmaker Pedro Pelágio, who exchanged passes with Bebeto (not that one) and then hammered in a vicious strike.
Eight minutes later, though, we had the ball in the Verde-Rubros’ net. Right-back Zeki Çelik‘s cross was headed in by Mattheus Oliveira, but the forward was just a smidge offside, so we remained behind at the break.
After several failures, we finally got back level nine minutes into the second period. Andraz Sporar sprung into action by beating the Marítimo defence to a magnificent free-kick delivery from Marcos Acuña and burying the equaliser.
1-1 was how the scoreline remained going into the second leg. The away goals rule did apply, though, so Marítimo knew that a 0-0 home draw would send them into the Final. The onus would be on us to push for victory.
SPORTING vs NACIONAL DA MADEIRA (Primeira Liga – Match 21)
We prepared for that match by hosting Nacional, who’d were chasing European qualification in their first season back in the Primeira Liga. Luis Freire’s Alvinegros defended with their typical valour but couldn’t quite deny us victory this time.
We hardly created any chances in the Nacional area before being gifted a penalty on 37 minutes. Diego Ferreira’s push on half-back Idrissa Doumbia proved costly, as Sporar blasted in the spot-kick. He then had a couple of headers on goal just before half-time but couldn’t double his money.
The second half saw more Sporting chances go begging, as the upright denied Ivan Petryak in the 47th minute, while fellow wideman Joelson Fernandes‘ wait to break his league duck went on. The visitors also gave us a few scares, but Maximiano’s assured goalkeeping kept our lead intact.
Pedro Mendes then came off the bench to seal victory in the final minute. Winger Jovane Cabral‘s angled shot was palmed off the line by goalkeeper Daniel Guimarães, but Mendes’ follow-up went in off defender Diogo Coelho’s shin.
MARÍTIMO vs SPORTING (Taça de Portugal – Semi Final, Leg 2)
We then enjoyed the perfect start to the second leg of our cup Semi, going 1-0 up after just eight minutes. Rosier rode past a sliding challenge before crossing to the far post, where Petryak needed two attempts to beat goalkeeper Charles.
Our advantage only lasted until the 23rd minute. That was when 18-year-old forward Bruno Tavares – on loan from Sporting – headed in a cross from ex-Leões midfielder Francisco Geraldes. (Pro tip: when loaning out a player to a team in your division, remember to remove the clause that allows them to play against you!)
The momentum was now with Marítimo… or at least it was until centre-half Lucas Áfrico dived in two-footed on Luiz Phellype just before half-time. Out came the red card, and we had the entire second half to retake the lead against 10 men.
Unsurprisingly, Marítimo didn’t go down without a fight. Their defence held out for about half an hour after the restart, before a magical moment from Wendel stunned the home crowd. Petryak intercepted a clearance from Marcos Valente and squared the ball to our box-to-box midfielder, whose first-time hit from 30 yards out rocketed past Charles!
Because we now had the edge on away goals, Marítimo had to score twice in the final 16 minutes to go through. However, we were so dominant in midfield that we didn’t allow them another shot before the final whistle blew with us winning 2-1 on the night – and 3-2 on aggregate!
Sporting were in the Taça de Portugal Final for the third time in four years. After seeing off Vitória de Setúbal on away goals, Vitória de Guimarães would provide the opposition for our big season finale in May. Before then, though, we could concentrate on the league and the Europa League.
BRAGA vs SPORTING (Primeira Liga – Match 22)
Next up was were Braga, who still led the Primeira Liga despite losing at home to Porto three days earlier. The Arsenalistas showed why they were genuine title contenders after just six minutes, when João Novais’ byline cross was headed in by Galeno.
Braga could have doubled their advantage midway through the first half, when Abel Ruiz’ header skimmed the bar. At the other end, Mendes and Luiz Phellype each squandered opportunities to equalise.
While our strikers couldn’t deliver the goods, our wingers sure could early in the second half. Cabral delivered a fantastic cross to Petryak, whose header continued his recent surge in form. Apparently, Jovane’s and Ivan’s coach reports suggest that they don’t enjoy big matches, but I’d beg to differ!
Half-back and vice-captain João Palhinha was certainly a man who thrived under pressure. After shrugging off a challenge from Braga’s left centre-back Raul Silva in the 78th minute, Mendes cut the ball across the area as Palhinha hammered in a superb strike to put us 2-1 up! A worthy match-winner, if ever there was one!
Alas, it was not to be. Rúben Amorim’s charges never gave up, and a late push yielded its rewards in injury-time, when Mailton posted a right-wing cross that Ruiz nodded into the net. As gutting as it was to miss out on victory, taking a draw from Braga was still a decent result.
SPORTING vs MARSEILLE (Europa League – Round of 32, Leg 1)
Our continental campaign resumed against one of Ligue 1’s big guns, and it was imperative that we won our home leg to have any realistic chance of progressing. Luiz Phellype got us off to the best possible start, converting a cross from Luciano Vietto after only 11 minutes.
Vietto could have followed up that assist with a goal seven minutes later. Luciano’s recent scoring record wasn’t great, though, and his half-volley from Petryak’s through-ball was pushed over by Steve Mandanda. The ex-France goalkeeper also kept Ivan off the scoresheet just before half-time.
At the other end, Marseille’s star attackers – including Juan Mata and Florent Thauvin – looked ill at ease against a well-organised Sporting defence. They could not force through an away goal, putting them under real pressure to win big at home a week later.
Sporting captain Sebastián Coates had been particularly strong at centre-back, deservedly being named ‘man of the match’. Sadly, a second-half booking meant Coates would be suspended from the second leg – and with Luís Neto not yet back from injury, the Uruguayan’s experience would be missed.
SANTA CLARA vs SPORTING (Primeira Liga – Match 23)
Before our journey to southern France was a brief stop on the Azores, where we faced the only team to have beaten us in the league so far this season. Santa Clara couldn’t cause another upset this time, though, as an eight-minute blitz late in the first half saw them off.
After a goalless first half-hour, things really kicked off in the 32nd minute, when a mini-scuffle in Santa Clara’s penalty area led to VAR awarding us a penalty. Mendes then sent the keeper the wrong way to open the floodgates.
Doumbia doubled our lead just four minutes later, hammering in his first goal of the season from distance after an excellent assist from Cabral. Another four minutes passed before Reinier’s header effectively finished our opponents off. Though we didn’t increase our 3-0 lead in the second half, this was still another solid away win.
MARSEILLE vs SPORTING (Europa League – Round of 32, Leg 2)
We followed that up with a similarly impressive display in Marseille, who were blown away in the first half of play. Our opener came after 14 minutes, when Vietto’s through-ball was tapped in by Luiz Phellype.
That away goal had made Les Phocéens’ challenge a whole lot tougher, and by the 22nd minute, they were in total disarray. Cabral turned past centre-back Boubacar Camara and then stroked in a low shot that Mandanda couldn’t quite tip away.
Things then got even better for us seven minutes from half-time, as the hosts’ defence had a total nervous breakdown. Right-back Davide Zappacosta attempted a back-pass just as his centre-halves pushed forward, inadvertently gifting the ball to Luiz Phellype in the box! Our lethal frontman fired home, and we led 3-0 on the night!
That was Big Phil’s 10th Europa League goal this season. Dario Benedetto achieved the same milestone for Marseille when he headed in a Zappacosta cross to pull one back on the hour mark. However, they still needed another four goals to overturn our 4-1 aggregate lead – and with Maximiano in top goalkeeping form, that just wasn’t happening.
We’d overcome strong opposition surprisingly easy, but our Round of 16 tie was likely to present a genuine challenge. RB Leipzig were 2nd in the Bundesliga – and they still had Timo Werner leading their attack.
SPORTING vs TONDELA (Primeira Liga – Match 24)
Our preparations for the first leg in Leipzig didn’t exactly go to plan. We were dreadful at home to out-of-form Tondela, only enjoying 35% possession and not registering a shot on target until the 83rd minute – and even that from Rodrigues was an easy catch for the goalie.
Tondela had given us a helping hand in the 77th minute, when winger Jhon Murillo made a reckless challenge on Oliveira to get himself sent off. Nine minutes later, Mattheus floated in a free-kick that Coates headed in via the post and the goalkeeper, only for the offside flag to go against us.
Another dire home draw beckoned… until another Mattheus set-piece finally broke through Tondela’s defence. Vietto and Cabral each headed the ball against the woodwork before Petryak made it third time lucky, sliding in a barely-deserved winner. It was cruel on Tondela – and on manager Natxo González, who was sacked after an eighth defeat in nine league games.
Thank goodness for Ivan, eh? With Braga and Porto each winning back-to-back games, and Benfica enjoying an unbeaten February, it was vital that we kept up the pace and didn’t chuck away cheap points.
RB LEIPZIG vs SPORTING (Europa League – Round of 16, Leg 1)
Our Europa League dream threatened to turn into a nightmare after just 12 seconds. Right-back Rosier probably broke the record for the fastest injury in a football match when he sprained his ankle ligaments in his first sprint of the game. That meant a very early return for the benched Çelik.
That could have unsettled our defence, but not only did we survive RB Leipzig’s early attacks, but we also won a penalty against the run of play just before half-time. Konrad Laimer was penalised for a shove on Palhinha, and Luiz Phellype tucked the penalty away to add an 11th goal to his continental haul.
In response to that, Laimer tried to take out our other wing-back, as Acuña returned to the dressing room with a huge gash on his leg. As Rodrigues wasn’t in the squad, I had to gamble on Marcos’ fitness – and he returned to help us produce a spirited second-half defensive display.
Leipzig threw everything at us after the break, but several blinding saves from Maximiano broke FM’s goalkeeper rating system, which gave him an unprecedented 7.4! While Werner was largely anonymous, strike partner Patson Daka was left rueing several missed opportunities as we came away from Germany with an unexpected away win!
MOREIRENSE vs SPORTING (Primeira Liga – Match 25)
After a couple of narrow wins, we were in absolutely ruthless form at Moreirense. Cömert opened the scoring after 20 minutes, finishing off a goalbound header from his central defensive partner Eduardo Quaresma. I don’t think Eduardo appreciated Eray taking away his first league goal, but the teenager’s time will surely come soon!
Mattheus then scored two goals in the closing stages of the first half – the second of which was truly breathtaking (see below). It could even have been a hat-trick, but while Oliveira’s shot was blocked by home left-back Abdu Conté, Vietto thundered in the rebound.
Vietto had the ball in the Moreirense net again in the 67th minute, but was flagged offside after pouncing on a Palhinha header that came back off the bar. When our fifth goal did arrive 15 minutes later, it was addressed to young playmaker Miguel Luís, whose drive from Wendel’s through-ball finally got him off the mark for this season.
What a pleasure it was to see eight Sporting players named in the Primeira Liga’s Team of the Week – nine if you include Tavares! The odd men out were Benfica left-back Álex Grimaldo… and Patrick Vieira, who’d apparently come out of retirement aged 44 to play right-back for Santa Clara!
Doo, doo, doo. Another boss bites the dust…
SPORTING vs RB LEIPZIG (Europa League – Round of 16, Leg 2)
…but then, er, we bit the dust in the Europa League. Frankly, we deserved it for being too cautious at the start, allowing RB Leipzig to negate their first-leg deficit.
Leipzig levelled the tie up after 20 minutes, when right-back Nordi Mukiele nodded in a corner from Dani Olmo. This was a less memorable Europa moment for Luiz Phellype, who was fatefully beaten to the header by the 23-year-old Frenchman.
By the 44th minute, the wolves were very much at our door. Hannes Wolf’s through-ball from attacking midfield was perfectly weighted for Werner, who surged past our centre-halves and then slotted the ball underneath Maximiano’s dive. I guess Red Bull does give you wings!
We pushed forward a bit more in the second half in a bid to get the minimum two goals we now needed, but it was too late. Julian Nagelsmann’s visitors were in their element and were keeping possession very effectively, starving us of quality opportunities. For the second year in a row, our continental challenge was halted by some ruthlessly efficient Germans.
SPORTING vs FAMALICÃO (Primeira Liga – Match 26)
Our Europa League disappointment then spilled over into the league, as our attackers wet the bed at home against an inconsistent Famalicão side. Vietto was particularly frustrating, missing the target twice in the first half and then having three shots saved in the second.
Those were amongst 12 saves that Jed Steer made in the Famalicão goal. The 28-year-old’s career might have taken a surprising turn last year, but he was having another outstanding game against us. At times, I wondered why Gareth Southgate didn’t just give up on Jordan Pickford’s T-rex arms and give this guy a go in the England team instead!
I was also left wondering where our defence was when the visitors took the lead against the run of play 10 minutes into the second half. Striker Crislan went criminally unnoticed in our box as he got his head to Guga’s free-kick and flicked it past a helpless Maximiano.
To be fair to Maximiano, Crislan could have scored again had it not been for a couple of late point-blank saves. Unfortunately, his heroics meant nothing, as our wastefulness at the other end halted our run of 18 league games without defeat – and left us even further behind the top three.
BELENENSES SAD vs SPORTING (Primeira Liga – Match 27)
And just to compound things further, we then served up a truly shocking performance at Belenenses to lose our unbeaten away league record as well!
While several Sporting players (Cabral especially) wasted chances in the first half, Belenenses only needed two to take a surprise lead in their battle against relegation. Dieguinho broke clear to power in a cross from André Santos after 39 minutes, while defender Ricardo Ferreira doubled their advantage from a corner just before half-time.
I was now trying almost everything to get us back on track – so much so that I’d made all my substitutions by the 56th minute. Of course, one of those subs – the notoriously fragile Rosier – broke his toe 20 minutes from the end. Typical.
Things were honestly getting ridiculous, even when it came to the one goal we did score from 25 attempts. Belenenses keeper André Moreira came out of his area to hoof forward a free-kick, which Vietto volleyed into an empty net from 50 yards! But even such a spectacular goal didn’t bring a hint of a smile to my face.
Yeah, we can probably forget about the title now – and even winning our game in hand would leave us two points adrift of Benfica in 3rd. It’s almost as if we’re going out of our way to not qualify for the Champions League!
Do the players even care?! Let’s put them to the test… with the ultimate ultimatum.
So here’s the deal. Should we finish outside the the Champions League places, I will walk out at the end of my initial two-year contract, and the Taça de Portugal Final will be my last match as Sporting manager.
If we can pull off the comeback and break back into that top three, I’ll withdraw my resignation and stay on – provided that the board still want me, that is!
YOUTH WATCH
Sadly, this chapter will end on another gloomy note, as our youth intake was indeed as uninspiring as the preview suggested. I’ve written before about how you shouldn’t expect wonderkids every year or judge your intake based on stars, but this crop of kids really isn’t all that.
Right-back António Sa is the brightest prospect. He’s brave and works hard, sure, but his physicals are a bit low, and he needs a better personality. I dunno… let’s see how he is in a few years’ time?
Sa was the only player that my Head of Youth Recruitment recommended for a contract, but I signed six others who had at least some potential. Among them was midfielder Leandro Alves, who can tackle hard and… er… not much else. Yippee.
Yikes! After a promising start, this update turned into a nightmare pretty quickly!
All that means the pressure will REALLY be on in Friday’s season finale. Can we save our skins – and my job – by finishing in the top three and winning the Taça de Portugal? Or will my time in Lisbon come to a premature and miserable end? Please don’t miss it!
Fuller FM 
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