The technician Artur Jorge assumed this Wednesday the annoyances of Sporting de Braga depending on third parties to go to the play off access to the round of 16 of the Football Europa League.
After a good start to the group, with two victories in the first two days, Sporting de Braga later added two defeats and a draw, so now they need a set of results to go on to the next play off Access to round of 16: win and hope that the Germans do not win in the stronghold of the Belgians and leaders Union Saint Gilloise.
Before welcoming Malmö on Thursday, on the last day of group D, coach Artur Jorge said that he did not expect to be making these calculations at this time and assumed that it was “somewhat uncomfortable in this position, since winning is the only solution we have and it still may not be enough.
“We depend on third parties to achieve the objective of going to the group stage, but we are motivated and we know what we have to do to win and we will be waiting for the other result, but in any case we have already secured it.” maintenance in European competitions remains to be seen, whether in the Europa League or the Europa League,” he said.
The coach stressed that he always said that this was “a very balanced group, with high-quality teams, in which the four teams aimed to go through.”
For Artur Jorge, after a good start, the double clash with Union Saint Gilloise, in which he allowed the comeback in Braga and the tie in Belgium after winning 3-1, “made the difference”, pointing out the “less” of the team. .
Artur Jorge also rejected the idea that there was “overconfidence” on the part of Sporting de Braga, pointing out that mistakes made are paid for at this level.
The coach praised Union Saint Gilloise’s “brilliant campaign” and said he “expected more” from Swedish champions Malmö, who were coming off Champions League qualifiers.
Malmö, with only losses, is bottom of the group and in the last league game (5-2 win over Vargers Bols) they reversed a negative cycle of eight games without a win (six losses and two draws).
Asked if the team will become ‘needles’ for the championship, in which it occupies second position, if it is relegated to the Europa Conference League, Artur Jorge said he did not want to think about that scenario.
“Win tomorrow [quinta-feira] we got 10 points, the same points that last year allowed us to go to the play-offs”, he said.
The coach also downplayed Banza’s scoring drought, who hasn’t scored in more than two months.
“I appreciate all my players, who are of great quality, they dignify what Sporting de Braga is and that everyone can be at their best so that we can win”, he said.
The coach revealed that Sequeira, who left Barcelos’ match with Gil Vicente touched (1-0 win), has already trained and will do one last rehearsal on Thursday, but Fabiano, sanctioned, is a safe drop.
Sporting de Braga, third in group D, with seven points, and Malmö, fourth and last, with zero, will face each other starting at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, a match that will be refereed by the French Rudy Ramo.
Source: TSF
