Sporting’s basketball coach, Luís Magalhães, delivered a candid assessment of his team’s early season, blending satisfaction from a crucial derby victory over FC Porto with an urgent call for greater cohesion in his new squad, while humorously deflecting any talk of player fatigue.
Magalhães oversaw Sporting’s 82-76 win against archrival FC Porto in the first “Clássico” — a traditional derby match — between the two clubs this season. He expressed satisfaction with the victory but admitted the “new team” requires significant improvement in details and collective play as the season progresses.
“Players have no reason to be tired,” Magalhães stated directly. “I am the one who has to be tired because I am old. No one can use that excuse.” He emphasized a preference for “less training and more games,” stressing the need for his team to be prepared for demanding European competitions.
Both Sporting and FC Porto are navigating their seasons with newly assembled rosters, a factor Magalhães identified as a source of inconsistency. “We suffer a lot; we have spectacular collective moments, but then suddenly it seems players don’t know where to be and appear lost,” he explained. He believes establishing clearer routines will be crucial.
The coach pointed to a challenging start to the league campaign, which included matches against Vitória and Benfica, followed by a European fixture against a top-tier Italian team. Sporting secured an unexpected victory against the Italian side, a feat Magalhães highlighted as rare for Portuguese teams in recent years.
The win over FC Porto also served as a response to an earlier heavy defeat against Benfica, a game where Magalhães had promised his team would react. He acknowledged Benfica’s own need to rebound after a substantial loss to a Spanish team. “The important thing was to react in the game with the Italians. They were the favorites and we won,” he concluded, reiterating the need for continuous improvement.