Sporting manager hopes Viktor Gyokeres avoids boos on Arsenal return
Sporting Lisbon head coach Rui Borges hopes Viktor Gyokeres will not face a hostile reception when the Arsenal striker returns to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final.
The Sweden international will line up against his former employers in the opening leg of the European tie.
He scored a remarkable 97 times across 102 appearances for the Portuguese club before sealing a £64m transfer to north London last summer.
A deserved acknowledgement
There is anticipation that the 27-year-old could face a difficult atmosphere from the home support upon his comeback.
Borges insisted the lucrative summer transfer was the correct outcome for all parties involved.
He is a great player, and I am sure he will be welcomed by everyone because he marked the history of Sporting, and he deserves this acknowledgement.
He wanted to take that step in his career and we respect that.
Players will change, but the club stays the same, and Sporting will go on winning.
Finding form in north London
The prolific attacker initially struggled to hit the ground running at Emirates Stadium.
However, the Swede has since found his rhythm, registering 17 goals for Mikel Arteta’s side this term.
His latest strike came as a substitute during a recent FA Cup defeat to Southampton.
I believe in the initial stage he had to adapt, given the style of play, and how Arsenal plays.
But he is still a great forward and now he is back to what he does well which is scoring goals.
Arsenal arrive as a wounded beast
The Premier League contenders arrive in Portugal following consecutive domestic defeats.
Their shock FA Cup exit on the south coast followed a Carabao Cup final humbling at the hands of Manchester City.
Despite the recent dip in form, the Sporting boss dismissed suggestions that this is an ideal time to face the English side.
They will be like a wounded beast tomorrow.
They will be more focused, more willing to show their collective and individual capacity.
Borges acknowledged the significant challenge ahead but backed his motivated squad to achieve something unprecedented against their visitors.
