“It’s a tough moment but we still have the Cup and close second place” – Observer
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Lack of inspiration. Disinspiration. Uninspired game. Lack of inspiration. Rúben Amorim’s first analysis of the defeat in the third derby of the season against Benfica always revolved around the same idea. He talked about the how, couldn’t explain why. “What didn’t go well? Practically everything, despite having the initiative…”, he assumed. And the numbers made the weight of that desire even more dense, the third in the last four meetings in the League in Alvalade with the reds and the first goalless this season.
Despite 16 shots, 28 ball actions and seven corners, the lions in the results part cannot hit and do not hit, with the exception of Sarabia’s flagrant at the beginning of the second great opportunity to reach another result even completely dominating the ball possession. And, with what was only the second defeat at home in the Campeonato de Rúben Amorim, Sporting has already lost many points and several goals like last season. A. so, for FC Porto, for nine points. And the technician that the title is lost.
“It was an uninspired game when it was needed. We conceded a goal in a shot in which the ball was clear and on the other side of the field, after Benfica played very low looking for our mistake and we lacked inspiration. On the last pass, on the cross, on the set pieces… so a lot of dead balls but they were all difficult. There was inspiration from the players but it’s football, it’s hard if you miss the opportunity to fight for a title but you have to raise your head because now we have the Portuguese Cup and that has to be our focus”, he began by referring to the football area. quick interviews from SportTV, before explaining the Plan Bs that don’t work.
“Benfica’s merit or Sporting’s demerit? It’s all that is needed together, of course there are all resources that defend, even people need to be defended and they too, took our imagination. In the second part, we didn’t think about keeping it and the superiority was clear. an uninspired day of our team but when the players give their all, there’s not much more to say”, he said.
“Benfica are quick and they can also take that, they caught him to fight it, control and find solutions to beat one that would defend in the last third. It is part and the truth is that Benfica’s coach’s strategy was better than that of Sporting’s coach, it is without result. It’s to raise your head, we have one more test to dispute on Thursday. Title lost? Yes, we have to go to the final knowledge, now we will give the maximum possession of Portugal. It’s a tough moment of the season but we still have the Portuguese Cup and the second one, which is not closed”, added the place about the derby.
“Decision week? Yes, it is a sign that we are in the decisions but we know that everything can change, we can do better in the Cup. Team shaken? Nobody knows, for me it’s not up to me, and I also know the players I have, it’s giving my all to be in the final of the Portuguese Cup, it’s a title we want to win. We’ve already won two but obviously it’s not enough. If FC Porto is a fair champion? When mathematically, all champions are usually fair. Nothing else matters to me… Now it’s time to look ahead, we have the Portuguese Cup”, concluded Rúben Amorim.