THEThe Bragaenses host Famalicão on Sunday, in the 10th round of the I League, in the second meeting between the two teams in three days, both in Braga, after, on Thursday, Famalicão eliminated the ‘arsenalistas’ in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on penalties (3-1), after a 2-2 draw at the end of the 90 minutes.
“The advantages and disadvantages (of the teams having played recently) are for both sides. We already knew Famalicão and they knew us. It’s a completely different game, another competition, the other game was a knockout game, we will try to present different things. We are not in the position we want and in which we will end the season”, he said.
Sporting de Braga also comes from three consecutive defeats in the championship and the coach assumed that a team “when it doesn’t win cannot be as confident” and that, mentally, it is not in the same shape as the opponent, but “the best answer” to overcome this state is to return to triumphs.
“The face of those who win is not the same as those who lose. We, players, coaches, structure and fans are not used to losing and we want to win”, he reinforced.
Asked whether he considers a cycle of four or five consecutive matches to be won urgent to begin the desired recovery, he said that his thinking is “game by game”.
“We can’t talk about game cycles. It will have to be game by game. I liked the competitive side (against Famalicão) and sometimes we won’t win through talent, but through competitive hunger, through sweat. It doesn’t seem prudent to me to think about cycles, but rather about the three points”, he said.
Franclim Carvalho wants to improve offensive efficiency and defensive balance to climb the table, noting that “it is not normal” for Sporting de Braga to have 11 points in the ninth round: “Our margin for error is increasingly reduced in the I League, but we have to think about the immediate and not do the math”.
Vítor Carvalho was a regular starter with Carlos Vicens, assuming the central defense position, but has not yet played minutes with the new coach, who said he counts on the Brazilian player, stressing that he considers him a defensive midfielder.
Franclim Carvalho also agreed that the reinforcements who arrived at Sporting de Braga this season have not yet shown their full potential, but he extended this to the entire squad.
“Lack of adaptation? It can happen, obviously, because some came from different countries and championships. Honestly, what I think is that the reinforcements and those who were here are below what they can and will give. We have a lot of internal quality and we will demonstrate this more consistently”, he said.
Sporting de Braga, ranked ninth, with 11 points, and Famalicão, 11th, with 10, will face each other at 8:30 pm on Sunday, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, a game that will be refereed by David Rafael Silva, from the Porto Football Association.
