 17-11-2009
Carlos Carvalhal: "The time to work"
Carlos Carvalhal assumes command of the Sporting first team until the end of the season; with the option of a further year. The coach, aged 43, guaranteed in an exclusive interview with the Sporting Journal that his priorities lay firmly with renewing the motivation of the team.
Jornal Sporting – At the age of 43, is this the biggest challenge of your football coaching career?
CARLOS CARVALHAL – It is, without doubt, the biggest challenge of my career. I have already tried my hand at various different levels of Portuguese football, such as the second division, but now I am at a massive club and it is a real honour for me. That, combined with the bit of time I have spent with other European clubs, has given me the chance to fight for a National title with Sporting.
– Are you confident that you can be successful with a big club like sporting?
– Above all, now is the time to work. Now is the time to motivate everybody that forms part of the Sporting universe. Now is the time to prove that this is just a dip in form, just like all clubs have, and for all Sporting fans to get behind the team and help it through these tougher moments. I hope that the fans continue to wave the Sporting flag and to wear the Sporting scarf, because the dynamism and potential that a team has depends on the support that fans give. If the  players can overcome the barriers that are in front of them, then they will always have the members and fans of the club by their side.
Lima, João Mário, Paulo Sampaio and Vítor Silvestre all join the coaching staff.
– Do you already have a coaching team ready for Sporting?
– Yes. José Lima will be the person working closest to me and it will be him that works with the attacking elements of the team. João Mário, who was part of my teach in Greece; will be working with the defensive elements of the team. Paulo Sampaio will provide the analysis of our opponents and form the link between analysis and practice. Vítor Silvestre will accompany José Lima with the Sporting juniors and will also work with the goal keepers.
'Everybody should be proud to support Sporting'
– What would you like to say, right now, to Sporting's fans?
– I will again stress that all teams have periods that are not as good as one might expect; with Sporting experiencing this sort of dormant period for a while now. What I hope for is that all Sporting fans step up to the plate and stop this period continuing into the future. Everybody should be proud to support Sporting and not let such periods take away from their affiliation with the club. The fans must manifest themselves, they must support the team, and they must make their presence known and not leave a weakened Sporting to fight alone. Above all, I think it's important that we create a solid foundation; so that we can reach the end of the championship with a sense of accomplishment.
'Maybe my place at a big club would make more sense if it had been given after the successful time I had with V. Setúbal'
–Where you waiting for such an opportunity to arrive in your career?
– Well, my road to where I am now hasn't been so bad. I have had some ups and some downs and done a decent job with some clubs. I do, however, think that I have done a few important things for the clubs that I have already worked with. Maybe my place at a big club would make more sense if it had been given after the successful time I had with V. Setúbal, but Sporting was looking for a specific personality and not just the present situation that a coach may be in. Sporting wasn't looking to pick somebody based upon five or ten good games, but was looking for somebody that has already done a good job with other clubs. The club chose somebody who was, a year ago, considered as one of the best coaches in Portuguese football and that can help guide one of the best teams in National football.
Text: Sandro Baguinho
Photos: André Santos
Translation: Michael B. Risley |
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