Sporting are set to have a special supporter at the Emirates Stadium when they face Arsenal this evening.
That’s their former midfielder João Palhinha, who now plays for Fulham, and he’ll be at the stadium to watch with his family.
The player himself revealed that in an interview he had with the Portuguese media. He had been speaking of Sporting’s chances of beating Arsenal, and ended up telling them he’s actually going to the match.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal beat Fulham 3-0 at the weekend, so it’s a chance for a little revenge, even if unlikely.
“I will be at the stadium with my wife and son and I hope they’re happy in the end,” João Palhinha told Sport TV (via O Jogo).
The 27-year-old talked about the Lions being prepared for this type of challenge, believing they could make their way to the quarter-finals and get a win in London.
“I’ll be rooting for them to win tomorrow, I know it won’t be an easy game. They played very well in the first game. I believe they can also give a good answer tomorrow, in an environment that is very good, in the Champions League.
“I think that Sporting is already used to this type of environment, especially in recent years due to the fact that they played in the Champions League. The club being included in this type of competition demonstrates the growth it has had, and tomorrow I expect a strong Sporting capable of giving a good response.”
João Palhinha left Sporting for Fulham in a €20m move last summer.
The midfielder had been a starter for the Lions in the previous seasons, and his departure is one of the reasons the Lions may not qualify for the Champions League this time around.
Since joining Marco Silva at Fulham, the player had a quick adaptation to the Premier League and already has 28 appearances for the club, with four goals scored.
