Sporting boss complains opponents 'don't want' to play against the Lions | OneFootball

Sporting's B team lost (1-0) to Vizela, last Sunday, December 14th, in a match for the 14th round of Liga 2. At the end of the match, João Gião analyzed the 90 minutes, acknowledging his team's lack of effectiveness, but also that there was little effective playing time due to all the stoppages.

"It must have been the lowest effective playing time we've had this season, but it is what it is. I think we didn't start the game very well, [against] an opponent with individual ability up front well above the average in this League. In a goal kick where we lacked aggressiveness on the first and second ball, they got behind us, took advantage of our mistake, and scored," he began by saying, in statements to Sporting TV.

"We had the ball and Vizela was waiting, betting on speed up front to take advantage of the space behind. It was a one-sided game, but with Vizela always dangerous in transitions. We had some lack of confidence, here and there, to set up the game, and we didn't always make the best decisions. After the sending off, we created four or five clear chances and didn't score, and I don't remember Vizela reaching our goal. But the story of the game is very much this: we couldn't nullify Vizela's strengths in the first 20 minutes and then, with one more player and especially in the second half, we lacked effectiveness. Still, I think we created enough opportunities to achieve a different result," he summarized.

Next, João Gião explained the introduction of Flávio Gonçalves and Rafel Besugo, with the goal of "unlocking the game between the lines": "Our best opportunities arose when we created space between the goalkeeper and the defensive line. Flávio [Gonçalves] is a player who can help unlock low blocks. Against competent teams like Vizela, one of the best squads in the Second League, the lack of effectiveness ends up justifying the result at the end of the day. It was a team that found itself in a low block, with ten players and a very high structure."

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