06-02-2010 Carlos Carvalhal: "Académica scored from their first shots"
Following the loss against Académica, the Sporting coach noted: "This happens a lot in football. Our opponent scored from their first shots in both halves, but I would like to say a few words for Rui Patrício. He has already given us a lot of points this season and we are grateful for everything that he has done. Mistakes like that happen and he still has our full support. He is a very valuable player and he is still young. What goalkeeper has not had a single bad game? I take full responsibility for everything that happened on that pitch tonight. We had a few chances to pull ahead before half time, but in the second half Académica again scored from their first chance on our goal. It unsettles the ship a bit when we waste chances to get something out of the game. I congratulate Académica, but we were on the receiving end of some debatable decisions tonight."
Looking to the future, Carlos Carvalhal stressed that it is important to "get the team back on track. We are going to face a very tough opponent (Benfica on Tuesday), but we are going to battle until the end. It is normal that people are unhappy right now, because we are not turning in expected results. Being faced by the problems that we are faced by, we have to fix them quickly and turn things around. We are going to play well in the upcoming derby and I am certain the fans will be right behind us".
As for the absence of Miguel Veloso and Yannick Djaló from the squad, Carvalhal noted: "It is for medical reasons. I don't know if they can play on Tuesday or if Izmailov can for that matter".
