The month of truth opens with several unknowns for Sporting. If the club, affected by the Covid during the truce, carried out rapid tests during the week with the aim “to be as careful as possible in managing the situation”, it will only really be fixed this Saturday morning after the receipt of the results of the PCR tests required by the Pro League.
In the meantime, Edward Still was able to count on the return of Stelios Andreou and his captain Marco Ilaimaharitra, affected by the virus and absent from the camp. “It allowed them to breathe. We gave them specific sessions to test their physical condition. They were very well. It may even be a good thing that they had an extra week of rest.”
For the rest, the efforts deployed throughout the week in Turkey seem to have been beneficial. “I returned to my squad with physical freshness and a good state of mind. The rest day granted was important for everyone.”
The other good news is the return of Knezevic – operated on for pubalgia on December 21 – and Van Cleemput – plagued by left ankle problems since early November. “They are 100% fit and selectable”, clarified Edward Still. But nothing says that they will be selected. And holders.
“One of the toughest”
By chaining Antwerp then Ghent, two direct competitors, the Carolos will quickly know where they are in the fight for the top 4. “Antwerp is one of the hardest trips of the season even if there won’t be the public. The people of Antwerp have a team where each position is doubled. It’s rare in our championship”, Still estimates. “This match represents a great challenge for my group.”
And the best way to see if the objectives should be scaled down or not after the departure of Nicholson… and before the probable arrival of at least two reinforcements.
