Despite Sporting Lisbon’s poor result in their last match, midfielder Pedro Mendes has insisted that his side is ready to face Rangers in the UEFA Europa League.
Sporting Lisbon were actually leading 2-0 over lowly side Olhanense at the weekend in the Liga Sagres, but they suddenly allowed their opponents to come back into the game to settle for a draw in the most miserable manner. Rangers however enjoyed a great Saturday thanks to a 6-0 win against Motherwell at home.
Perhaps, there is no doubt that the Scottish giants are currently in much better form than the Portuguese strugglers. Yet, despite everything, Pedro Mendes has yet to overestimate his adversaries in the Europa League.
"Every season, there will be a Rangers game which finishes 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0... So I am not worried about that,” the former Porto player said. “It was just the same when I was there.
"I am confident ahead of Thursday. I am looking forward to it because it is a different competition instead of the Portuguese League.
Mendes continued: "It is exactly what the team needs at the moment: to play in a different tournament. I actually thought that we played well against Olhanense. We were in complete control, and then we seemed to lose concentration and lost a couple of goals in two minutes or something.
"One of them was offside, and the other was an own goal. But I repeat: we are confident about Thursday. What happened here hasn't changed that ( our vision ahead of the Rangers vs Sporting Lisbon game).”
Perhaps, there is no doubt that the Scottish giants are currently in much better form than the Portuguese strugglers. Yet, despite everything, Pedro Mendes has yet to overestimate his adversaries in the Europa League.
"Every season, there will be a Rangers game which finishes 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0... So I am not worried about that,” the former Porto player said. “It was just the same when I was there.
"I am confident ahead of Thursday. I am looking forward to it because it is a different competition instead of the Portuguese League.
Mendes continued: "It is exactly what the team needs at the moment: to play in a different tournament. I actually thought that we played well against Olhanense. We were in complete control, and then we seemed to lose concentration and lost a couple of goals in two minutes or something.
"One of them was offside, and the other was an own goal. But I repeat: we are confident about Thursday. What happened here hasn't changed that ( our vision ahead of the Rangers vs Sporting Lisbon game).”
