Fernando Sá: Defensive rebounds cost us cup final vs Sporting | OneFootball

After FC Porto's defeat against Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final, Fernando Sá acknowledged, even without consulting the statistics, that he had the impression that rebounds had tipped the balance in favor of the lions. This perception was confirmed, with Sporting obtaining 20 offensive rebounds and finishing with 12 more in total compared to their rival (33-45).

“There was little imbalance, with such a slight difference on the scoreboard. Without having seen the statistics yet, I have the feeling that the defensive result aspect affected us. But I must highlight the work of my players and their dedication and ability to endure. It wasn't enough that Omlid was absent due to an injury yesterday, Javian Davis was limited, and Dunn had to leave at some point. Things became increasingly difficult to manage, but we fought for the game with dignity until the end,” analyzed the Porto coach after the match.

Javian Davis, in fact, had been injured the day before against Galitos, and during the match, his physical discomfort was sometimes noticeable. Therefore, Fernando Sá emphasized the center's commitment. “Davis made a great sacrifice throughout the game, he was about not to play. He did the tests beforehand and sacrificed himself for the team, did what he could and did well,” he stressed, confirming that Tanner Omlid has a “muscle injury,” although the extent is not yet known.

The partial (23-28) that Sporting started in the third quarter, with five three-pointers in three minutes, was decisive: “It's always an advantage that Sporting gained that we couldn't overcome. We had opportunities to do so but couldn't. The way we conceded the three-pointers, some were after offensive rebounds. I think it was the statistical aspect that affected us the most.”

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