Sporting boss wary in Europe: Anything can happen... | OneFootball

After the 2-1 victory against Puskás Akadémia, which secured Sporting's qualification for the round of 16 of the UEFA Youth League, coach João Gião highlighted the team's performance and analyzed the match. In his assessment of the game, the coach began by pointing out the difficulties faced in the first half.

"A first half in which the opponent was slightly superior to us. We had trouble dealing with their pressing in the first 20 minutes, we gave the ball away a lot to Puskás, who have quality players. They managed to push us back without creating much danger, but with the comfort of having possession. We balanced things out and the game became more even. The halftime score was fair because I don't remember any clear chances for either team. The pitch was heavy, with some technical errors forced by the turf," he began by saying.

Regarding the team's response in the second half, João Gião highlighted the adjustments made and the reaction after conceding a goal: "We made adjustments in the second half, which went well. Not always inspired, but with almost total control of the game. We went up 1-0, had a chance for a second, and they equalized on a counterattack at a time when they didn't deserve it. We didn't let the goal affect us mentally, and we always believed. We kept pushing forward, creating chances, and were strong on set pieces. Then, we rightly regained the lead. The substitutes were very involved, which was very important. A tough but deserved win."

Already thinking about the next round, still without knowing the opponent—the draw will take place on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland—the coach made the team's ambition clear: "We want to win the next one. It's just one leg, 90 minutes, and no extra time. Many big names have already been eliminated and surprises can happen. We are focused on the next knockout round, which we want to win, and on giving these players room to continue developing in a very interesting competition. And always representing Sporting with dignity. That is our duty."

With this victory—the 12th in 26 games this season—João Gião's men continue to fight for a trophy they have never won. Sporting will be back on the pitch on Sunday, February 8, against Famalicão, at 11:00 am, in Alcochete.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.