João Brandão: Wanted the win, but pleased with players’ progress | OneFootball

The match between FC Porto B and UD Oliveirense ended in a goalless draw (0-0). João Brandão highlighted “a dominant, controlling FC Porto creating opportunities,” praised “a very cohesive defensive block,” and admitted that “some things were lacking offensively, particularly effectiveness.”

“In such a balanced and tight game, it’s important to be effective with the few opportunities you create,” explained the coach, satisfied because “the players didn’t shy away from the fight and faced the challenge as they should,” even playing with a numerical disadvantage after André Oliveira left due to injury.

Penalty not awarded“It was a tough game in a challenging week of preparation. This became evident throughout the game, in how we had to manage the minutes of Gonçalo Sousa and Tiago Andrade. Some players felt constrained, and we had many difficulties preparing for this game, but the players didn’t shy away from the fight and faced the challenge as they should, in Porto style. Obviously, we lacked some things offensively, particularly effectiveness, because in such a balanced and tight game, it’s important to be effective with the few opportunities you create. Today we couldn’t be, but we were always a very cohesive defensive block, and it was very difficult for Oliveirense to find spaces within our block. It was a dominant, controlling FC Porto creating opportunities, but it’s hard not to talk about this last play…”

André Oliveira's injury“The players never shied away from the fight and tried to win, even with 10 men. We formed a cohesive block, with two lines of four and Melnichenka upfront, and we recovered two balls where we could have created more on the right flank. Even with 10, we managed to keep the game in the opponent's half, it’s a shame we couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities, and it’s also a shame about André Oliveira’s injury, which we will now try to understand. We really wanted to win this game due to the absences we have, not only André Miranda but also Brayan Caicedo, Martim Cunha, and Yoan Pereira, who are players we miss. I wish them all a speedy recovery and hope that André Oliveira’s injury isn’t what we all think it might be. The players went after the game and wanted to fight, but it’s a shame we couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities we created.”

From last to sixth place“It has been a big challenge to prepare each game and help these young players grow. This week is an example of that. I want to say a word for the under-17 players, like Tcherno Jamanca and João Brito, who have been working with us to adapt to the environment and demands of professional football. I also want to say a word for the great victory of the under-19s, with a very strong spirit from the players who belong to the B team, who didn’t go to the under-19s just to fulfill minutes, but to add and bring a very strong spirit. Other players, like Gonçalo Sousa, Tiago Andrade, and Gabriel Brás, were present in the A team call-ups, and that creates a big challenge in game preparation. That is also the purpose of the B team, and we are very satisfied with the standings. We want more, we wanted to win this game, but we are also very satisfied with what is being built by each of the players.”

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