Coach Artur Jorge considered that the key to beating Union St. Gilloise, on Thursday, in the third round of group D of the Europa League, lies above all in the competition from Sporting de Braga.
“The key is going to have many factors, but above all it is in the competition that the team is going to have. [também] in intensity and will. The approach we make will be decisive for the final result, because we are going to have a very difficult team that, like us, is in first place [do grupo]with two winssaid the coach at the press conference prior to the match against the fourth-placed team in the Belgian league.
Artur Jorge highlighted his ambition to finish the group in first place, considering that “being able to break away from this rival would be very important”, having also removed the weight of the defeat recorded by Braga at the Estádio do Dragão, against FC Porto ( 4-1), last Friday, the first of this season.
“Fortunately, I am in a position that I prefer, because I have eight wins and one loss. [e um empate]I prefer this to the opposite. The work with the team hasn’t changed anything, I have players with a lot of character and I said just after the match in Dragão that they were already reacting to what was a mishap.”said.
Artur Jorge said he hopes the increased European experience could be an advantage for Sporting de Braga, but said that alone is not enough.
“St. Gilloise comes from the Champions League qualifying phase, he is fourth in his league, I studied the team and I know him well enough to know that he is going to demand a lot from us. It is a very cohesive team in defense, with a very interesting dynamic. The preparation was not based on the experience or maturity of the two teams in these competitions, but on the timing of both,” he said.
The Arsenal manager also devalued the four goals conceded against FC Porto, almost as many as the team had scored so far (five), and the least fruitful moment for striker Banza, who has gone five consecutive games without scoring.
“Nothing happens at all. At the beginning of the season the problem was Ricardo Horta, now Banza, but there is no problem at all. Everyone worked very well this week, with a lot of ambition, all aiming to win the match collectively. ,” he said.
Artur Jorge said that the Belgian team “is not a surprise” for him: “I know what they are capable of, they reached the Champions League qualifying phase after a great season last year, this year they maintain that record with a season at a good level so far, it is a team excited about what it has done in recent years in the Belgian league, it is a very competent team and it is going to demand a lot from us in order to win”.
Matheus and Fabiano cannot play on Sunday, at the reception to Desportivo de Chaves, for the championship, because they are suspended, and Artur Jorge revealed that they will start against the Belgians.
Sporting de Braga, first in group D, with six points, and Union St. Gilloise, second, also with six, will meet starting at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, in a match that will be refereed by the French Stephanie Frappart.
Source: TSF
