Estoril coach Ian Cathro has fired shots at FC Porto after their narrow 1-0 defeat, dismissing any excuses about Porto being tired. Cathro praised his team's courageous performance, despite the loss, and highlighted the tactical problems they posed for the Portuguese giants.
'No Fear' Approach
Speaking to Sport TV, Cathro stated, "We're not going to play with fear, that's something we'll never do." He expressed frustration that their performances haven't translated into points, lamenting, "Unfortunately, we're in a moment where we don't have the points that reflect the quality of our work, our game, our players."
Tactical Surprise
Cathro believes Estoril surprised Porto tactically, saying, "We try to play like a big team, but we're not a big team. We have a lot of work during the week and the ability to adjust and get the most out of our squad. You have to be versatile."
Guitane: 'Proud but Sad'
Estoril midfielder Rafik Guitane echoed Cathro's sentiments, stating, "We played a great game against a great FC Porto. We lacked the finishing touch, we'll improve that for the next game. Everyone saw our quality." Guitane emphasized the team's focus and preparation leading up to the match.
The match also saw a minor scuffle between the technical staff, which Cathro downplayed, attributing it to cultural differences. He expressed admiration for the Estoril coach's work, despite the incident.
Ultimately, both Cathro and Guitane expressed pride in their team's performance, despite the disappointing result. They are eager to see if the media will focus on Estoril's quality rather than potential excuses from FC Porto.