Pedro Gomes: I really admire one of Sporting’s key men | OneFootball

Pedro Gomes believes that Sporting needs to present a very different image against Bodø/Glimt in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. Despite hoping for a reaction from the team, the former defender is not very confident in the possibility of overturning the 3-0 defeat, although he praises some players in the squad like Francisco Trincão.

“It will be very complicated because this opponent plays extremely fast and well-supported football and can dismantle any team. I think Sporting can't turn it around, but I would be happy if they did. Putting on a good performance and winning the game would already be pleasing,” he told Agência Lusa.

Pedro Gomes believes that the first leg was marked mainly by the difference in intensity between the two teams: “Speed was the big difference. Sporting is doing well internally, but they didn't have the momentum to hold Bodo/Glimt. They should have played more defensively and taken advantage of counter-attacks, but they wanted to play openly, and that was their downfall.”

Despite the difficulties, the former player believes that a strong start can change the course of the match: “When everything seems to be over, new strength should arise in the players so that Sporting can still be alive and turn things around. If they score an early goal, the crowd will help and support the team until the end. Every game is different, and, as the Portuguese love codfish, maybe they'll eat the Norwegians”, he joked.

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