The club president gives an interview to Sporting TV

In an exclusive interview with Sporting TV, Frederico Varandas, president of the Board of Directors of Sporting Clube de Portugal, addressed several topics.

His review of the club’s participation in the UEFA Champions League

"Sporting CP had an objective set out at the beginning of the season: To reach the playoff stage. We had a good group stage and managed to accumulate around 50 million euros. In the playoffs we faced a strong team, last year’s runners-up, but it leaves a bitter taste for us because, in other circumstances, we could have played in the knockout stages. We have to be realistic and pragmatic."

The winter transfer market

"This squad was built by the coach we had at the time, adjusted to his formation. It was a squad that always gave good results from a competitive point of view. With a change in the coaching staff, it is a squad adjusted to a way of playing that no longer applies.

We prepared for the season at the end of the previous campaign and, at the time, Sporting CP set ourselves an ambitious but realistic objective. We did something we had never achieved before: We didn't sell a single starter from a team that had the best season in the last 70 years. Furthermore, the SAD invested around 65 million euros in players who joined, such as Maxi Araújo, Conrad Harder, Zeno Debast and now Rui Silva. This was a very big effort for an SAD. We made a conscious committment, but a very bold one from an investment point of view.

Just because there have been injuries doesn’t mean we have a box from which to draw unlimited funds. I would like to have a different capacity for investment but, on top of everything, the January transfer market is extremely difficult and expensive. How much does a first-choice, undisputed starter cost?

I want to remind Sporting CP members so that they remember the financial effort that is being made. In this window, once again, we refused to sell players. We are fighting, and in first place, even with all the setbacks. Making another type of investment is not Sporting CP's reality, but it is also important not to forget that, today, the investment capacity is almost double what it was when we arrived here."

Retaining the title

"I've been a member of Sporting CP since I was born. I've always been a member, with 21 years as a Gamebox member. I'm 45 years old. In 40 years, I've celebrated two title wins. They were unforgettable, but there were only two of them. Since this board took over, we've celebrated the same number of titles. We have to understand that the being double champions was unimaginable in the world of Sporting CP: In 40 years, two clubs won the title alternately and we won it once every 19 years.

We are questioned, but this team is in first place and we have the champion’s symbol on our shirts. If we lose the title, of course it is our responsibility, but I’m very happy that the ‘two-time champions’ exists in the Sporting CP dictionary. And it will continue to exist."

The departures of Marcus Edwards and Vladan Kovačević

"Edwards' departure was a decision from the management. He is a Sporting CP player, an asset of ours, with a lot of talent and in whom we believe. We have to do better with him to get the best from him, and he has to be better too.

Kovačević didn't have an easy start, which probably hurt him, and he wasn't able to adapt as we expected. He did not live up to the expectations created, hence the arrival of Rui Silva. We had to have a priority in the market, within our financial limitations, and a goalkeeper was that priority."

The spate of injuries

"Injuries exist in sport. We have had seasons with very few injuries. Daniel Bragança had a serious injury two years ago, but from the point of view of traumatic and muscular injuries, there have been very few so far. We have always had great availability from our players for training and games.

This year we had a lot of injuries, mainly traumatic. Of the eight injuries, five are traumatic and three of them are serious. The other three, which are muscular, are normal given the exposure to which these players are subjected.

When we have between three and four players injured, we have two problems. Firstly, we don't have these players. Secondly, with the players who are available we will not be able to rotate. This translates into overload. Injuries always bring more injuries.”

Managing injuries

"In 2018 we started the Performance Unit, which has the best professionals in terms of human resources, and which wants for nothing from a technology point of view. This unit, which belongs to the Clinical Directorate, manages all the workloads. We have had this system in place for a long time and the professionals are the same.

The Clinical Director, Dr. João Pedro Araújo, is a nationally and internationally renowned doctor. He belongs to a network of FIFA doctors, required at major non-club competitions. Dr. João Pedro Araújo is required for the Club World Cup final that will take place this summer. There is no need to say anything more about his competence.

We have a person responsible for physiotherapy who this summer received an offer to be responsible for the same department at a large English club.

The Medical Department and Performance Unit exist to treat injuries, but do not prevent them. There are two ways to face this type of adversity. We can start blaming everything from witchcraft, to the grass, the boots, the training - or we can manage things calmly, serenely and rationally.

It’s very important that Sportinguistas realise that this group does not give up. It is a very strong, united group of national champions. It won't be easy for any team to take this title away from them.

Can injuries hinder us? They can. Are they going to? I don't think so. Because of the makeup and desire of my players. As President and former Clinical Director, I look at the next few weeks and know that we will have to stand firm. I'm sure that by enduring these three weeks, that group will celebrate the most enjoyable title of all."

The number of games

"From a scientific point of view, with the change in the competitive model, the number of injuries increased by 7%. That's a lot. Whether it's circumstantial or not, UEFA itself need to analyse this, because this is a problem not just at a domestic and international club level – it's also a problem for the national teams.

The way to prevent so many injuries may be to dispense with competitions like the Taça da Liga, for example. Sporting CP have to face the competition differently. We want to be in those UEFA Champions League games and the players are not superhuman. There are many clubs with massive injury lists, and there are many clubs that compete for the Champions League."

Hugo Viana’s early departure

"There had been a commitment since October, when Hugo Viana accepted Manchester City's invitation, but for personal and family reasons he informed me that after the January transfer window he wanted to leave. Sporting CP had no other alternative."

The choice of João Pereira

"Going back to the 11th of November, it would be very difficult to make a different decision. Even due to the construction of the squad. João Pereira played with a similar model. What I can say today, and this is the interpretation of those who experienced the situation closely, is that any coach who came in to replace Ruben Amorim would have had difficulties. The players were not receptive to changes. Since we have been here, João Pereira is having the best season for the B team. Even with many absences, they are on the way up to the second tier. João will make his way and prove his worth."

The appointment of Rui Borges

"I am very satisfied with the way he works and the way he looks at the problem. I see myself in him in that aspect. The confidence he gives to the players is that we will win. The players believe in him because he is a calm, serene coach. Even without many hours to train, he has shown the ability to adapt. Rui Borges is a fighter who did very well with a group with a tough schedule ahead, with many injuries. Sporting CP fight and will continue to fight."

Analysing refereeing

"Our way is to try to value Portuguese football and create a positive environment. It's very easy to fall into the temptation of attacking and systematically crucifying a referee after a defeat. We don't see ourselves that way.

But if I can do an analysis since December, I consider that the refereeing criteria used for Sporting CP in games is different from that of rivals who are fighingt for the same objectives.

I like to be objective and I want to explain, clearly, the reasons for saying this.

It's hard for us, at Sporting CP, to see, for example, a player touching his head against a referee and nothing happening, but one of our players leaning his head against a rival player – which is bad, and he has to get a yellow card – and being sent off for aggression.

Against Arouca FC, a penalty was given or pushing and grabbing. Is this the criteria? That’s ok. Is there any criteria to give it? That’s good. But in the same weekend, FC Porto won 1-0 with a goal where there was a push that VAR devalued. This criterion is confusing.

Two rounds ago, SL Benfica had a penalty in their favour due to a handball. In the 90th minute, a similar move took place, in the same area of the pitch, and the SL Benfica player made a much worse movement. There was no equal criterion.”