"We aren't hiding from anything, but that doesn't justify the errors that have had a negative impact on us. Yesterday we were closer to the level we want to be at in terms of how we played. We scored third goal, but the linesman, Nélson Moniz, ruled it out. If you feel that your work is being altered, then of course you would not be happy", said Machado about Alan Ruiz's 81st minute strike, adding: "I will say it again: We have not been at the level we should be at in certain matches. Jorge Jesus has said that himself, but we would be in a different situation without these kinds of mistakes. That match in Estádio da Luz was a defining moment, after we had pulled back seven points. The penalties were clear and the Refereeing Council denied what everybody say. Sporting CP contributed to refereeing, namely through defending the use of the video-referee."

 

For Octávio Machado, the answer to Sporting CP's current woes must come on the pitch, starting with Paços de Ferreira in the next Liga NOS fixture: "I would like to see a huge response against Paços. Yesterday nobody could accuse the players of not doing their all and they were frustrated. The league table isn't a true reflection right now."