João Palhinha gave an extensive interview to the newspaper O Jogo, in this Thursday’s edition, in which he spoke about various topics, from Sporting to the Seleção, including the failed transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer. Asked about Viktor Gyokeres, the forward sensation of the Portuguese championship, João Palhinha admits that the clubs “were sleeping”.
“I think they were all distracted. I think they were a little bit asleep, to be honest. I’ve already told people close to me that I don’t understand how a player of Gyokeres’ quality and with the physical power he has, I think would fit well into any England team, how did he get into the Portuguese league, despite having gone to Sporting, which is a great club and has merit in his signing. Sporting managed to sign him and thank goodness because he has been an asset in every game. His performance has been very high in the Portuguese championship and certainly Sporting will make a lot of money with him“, he joked.
Palhinha also spoke about a coach he knows well – Rúben Amorim. And he believes he has the ability to guide a club the size of Liverpool. “Rúben is a coach with a lot of quality, one of the best in Portugal, he has done an excellent job since Braga. He has in-depth knowledge of the game and has a close relationship with the players. The way he is growing, he won’t stay in Portugal much longer. It will not be for lack of opportunities that he will not leave Portugal. He dreams and aims to win another title with Sporting and then the future will be in his hands. Capable of coaching Liverpool? Yes, of course, although the pressure is different. When you coach a big Portuguese club, you have pressure from the fans and the size of the club itself, which forces us to win. When you coach Liverpool, you have pressure from the fans, the club, and the whole world. The way it is growing, I think it will be a matter of time”, he guarantees.
João Palhinha also discussed the failed transfer to Bayern Munich, canceled when the Portuguese was in Germany. Fulham changed their minds and did not allow the exit. Palhinha says it was a “punch in the stomach”.
“It’s a story from the past, but it will obviously mark my career. This episode at the time was a punch in the stomach, but life has moved on and I can only work so that one day I will have an opportunity similar to the one I had at that time. We know that the train often doesn’t pass twice. But anyway, I don’t want to focus on that. If it didn’t happen, it’s because it didn’t have to happen… unfortunately. But I’m here to work, do my best and continue to grow as a player. As for the rest, it already transcends me, I couldn’t do more than I did. I don’t want to think about it much more, it’s part of the past and I want to move on”, concludes the Fulham midfielder.
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* Study by e Netsonda, Nov. and ten. 2023 product of the year – pt.com
