Former sports director Carlos Freitas broke his silence on the troubled outfit’s shambolic Ibrox build-up just as Chilean ace Valdes and Argentinian defender Leandro Grimi were being ruled out of tomorrow’s match through injury.
Valdes who plays in an advanced role behind the strikers, was taken off during the first half of the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Olhanense.
And he has been told he will not be able to train for two weeks because of an adductor muscle injury.
Grimi, who was injured in the warm-up before the Olhanense clash, has also failed to recover in time for the trip to Ibrox.
It is the latest in a long line of disasters for under-pressure head coach Paulo Sergio, who is battling to save his job following a run of results that has left his side a massive 23 points behind Porto in the Portuguese League.
Star striker Liedson was sold to Brazilian side Corinthians last month and that forced sporting director Costinha to quit because he had not been consulted over the deal.
President Jose Eduardo Bettencourt has also walked out because of criticism from supporters, while Sergio fell out with Montenegrin star Simon Vukcevic at half-time the game at Olhanense but he will travel to Scotland today.
Freitas, who left the club three seasons ago, said: “For me, this crisis is staggering.
“There is a depressive state within Sporting.
“It pains me greatly to see the club in this situation.”