Braga Seeks Alterations in Match Records to Secure Victory over Casa Pia
Lashing Out: Sporting de Braga's Bumpy Ride and Recovery
Sporting de Braga finds themselves in a bit of a pickle, ending up in two consecutive 1-1 stalemates against Santa Clara and Famalicão, which allowed FC Porto to lock horns once more for third place, both teams amassing 65 points.
According to coach Carlos Carvalhal, the team will need to rectify their past mistakes. "We've got to sort out what went awry in the last two matches because we had a couple of false starts," he said. "We gathered the squad this week, dissecting the first ten minutes of those games, as the team played significantly better from then on. It wasn't an issue of attitude or grit; we specifically wanted to fathom why we stumbled out of the gates," he added.
While these draws haven't rattled the team's confidence, the coach wants Sporting de Braga to strike early in the game against Casa Pia in Rio Maior, aiming for the three points. He noted that the lack of audacity was mainly due to positioning mishaps that led to the team losing balance. "At times, due to a positional error, the team becomes lopsided, it's that sort of audacity," he shared.
Braga could be low on key players if they receive a yellow card against Casa Pia, potentially sidelining Niakaté, João Moutinho, Racic, Zalazar, and Gabri Martínez for the showdown against Benfica in the last round. However, Carvalhal isn't thinking along those lines. "We steer clear of managing the team based on discipline, except during the games. We trust our players and aim to increase their aggressiveness. We've never drummed up excuses for the next game, even if we are shorthanded due to disciplinary reasons," he asserts.
The goal differential could prove to be a deciding factor in the scuffle for third place with FC Porto, but Carvalhal is hesitant to speculate about trouncing Casa Pia. "I think it's disrespectful to talk about that; it gives the wrong impression that we're fighting alone. Our purpose is to win, and then we'll reassess," he remarked.
Despite the boss being silent on the matter, the president, António Salvador, recently expressed his desire to continue leading Minho club for another four years and nab the national championship. Carvalhal, however, has kept mum on the topic until the end of the season, conceding that the president has set the bar high.
Carvalhal will be present at the Municipal de Rio Maior stadium slightly hobbled, having injured his right shoulder in the last game. He explained, "Never before in my life have I experienced pain like that, believing that dislocating a shoulder could cause such agony. From that moment on, I couldn't tell up from down. I struggled not to rush to the hospital; I thought I ought to remain, show resilience, but I thought I should set an example. I was administered morphine in the ambulance because the pain was unbearable. Then, they detected a small fracture."
Central defender Paulo Oliveira is back in contention after serving a suspension.
On Saturday, at 20:30, the fourth-placed Sporting de Braga (65 points) and the eighth-placed Casa Pia (42 points) will go head-to-head at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior, with Luís Godinho from the Évora association officiating. With this crucial encounter coming up and a potential European spot on the line, Braga needs to gather its wits, sharpen its claws, and display a winning mentality to wrap up the season on a high note.
Sporting de Braga will aim to demonstrate a winning mentality in their European-leagues ambitions, especially against Casa Pia, as they seek to secure a potential spot. The coach, Carlos Carvalhal, highlighted the importance of early scoring to boost their chances in the premier-league standings, as they strive to rectify their positional errors and regain their audacity on the field.
