,autocrop(1200:630) "Sporting's Paulo Fonseca left with depleted squad as 17 players called up for international duty")
Seventeen members of Sporting’s first-team squad left for international duty this November, yet the club’s new manager Paulo Fonseca retains all four of his center-backs. A Bola reported the full count of absentees, while SAPO detailed that Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Ibrahima Ba and the injured Debast remain at the training ground in Alcochete.
The contrast shapes Fonseca’s first two weeks in charge. While big clubs typically lose dozens of internationals during FIFA windows, Sporting’s entire defensive axis is available because none of the four center-backs received call-ups. Rui Silva is the only Sporting player in Portugal’s senior squad, with Gonçalo Inácio left out by national team coach Jorge Jesus, Bola na Rede reported.
Why did Gonçalo Inácio stay behind?
Fonseca addressed Inácio’s omission at Friday’s press conference ahead of the Moreirense match on Nov. 7 at 20:30. “It wasn’t this time by Mister Jorge Jesus’s choice, whom I respect immensely,” Fonseca said, according to Bola na Rede. “On the other hand, I’m satisfied because I can have time to work with him.”
The Sporting manager noted that having Inácio available increases the number of defenders in training during a period when the squad is otherwise reduced. Leonino reported that Fonseca sees the break as “two weeks that I could work with the players, but we don’t have much.”
Fonseca’s Priority: Defending Better
The new coach has identified defensive organization as a priority after watching Sporting’s recent matches. “If Sporting doesn’t defend well, it’s impossible to fight for titles,” Fonseca said, as quoted by Leonino. “One of the priorities is getting the Sporting team to defend well.”
He explained that he defends differently than his predecessor and that working on defensive structure has been a focus during the limited training time available. When asked about specific weaknesses, Fonseca declined to detail them publicly. “We have a tendency to hide our frailties, and if we have them I’m not going to divulge them,” he said, per diadejogo.pt. “We have to understand if those frailties exist and work on them inside to improve them.”
The November Calendar After the Break
Sporting returns to competition on Nov. 21 against União da Serra in the Portuguese Cup, a fixture that gives Fonseca a longer preparation window than usual between international matches and club games, diadejogo.pt noted. The month then compresses rapidly: Manchester United visit Alvalade on Nov. 25 in the Champions League, followed by a trip to FC Porto on Nov. 29 where only a victory keeps Sporting’s title hopes alive, according to SAPO.
Questions About Sporting’s International Window
When does Sporting play next after the November international break?
Sporting faces União da Serra in the Portuguese Cup on Nov. 21, with no competitive match between the last international fixtures and that date, diadejogo.pt reported.
Which Sporting players are with senior national teams?
Only goalkeeper Rui Silva is in Portugal’s senior squad. The 17 absentees include players called up by Italy, Greece, Mozambique, Colombia, Uruguay and Australia, SAPO detailed.
Who are the four center-backs available to Fonseca?
Gonçalo Inácio and Eduardo Quaresma of Portugal, Ibrahima Ba of Senegal, and Belgium’s Debast, who is recovering from injury, all remain at Alcochete, A Bola reported.
What is Fonseca’s main tactical concern?
Fonseca wants Sporting to defend better, stating that without solid defending the team cannot challenge for titles, Leonino reported.
Whether Fonseca can install his defensive principles before the Champions League match against Manchester United on Nov. 25 remains the open question, with only the cup match against União da Serra on Nov. 21 separating the international break from Europe’s biggest stage.
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