Braga still believe!

Hoping to turn the tides of fortune: Braga coach Manuel Machado is under pressure going into the UEFA Cup return leg against Bremen.
First Team
Thursday, 21.02.2008 / 11:46

During the final training session for SC Braga ahead of their UEFA Cup return leg tie on Thursday, 21.02.2008 at the ‘Stadio Municipal’, the Portuguese club’s coach, Manuel Machado, had his players defiantly practising penalty kicks.

During the final training session for SC Braga ahead of their UEFA Cup return leg tie on Thursday, 21.02.2008 at the ‘Stadio Municipal’, the Portuguese club’s coach, Manuel Machado, had his players defiantly practising penalty kicks. The trainer is beginning to feel the squeeze, and not just because of the two missed penalties in Bremen.

 

Machado’s men have not yet won a single game in 2008 and have conceded a whopping 15 goals in their last six outings - too many in both the opinion of the press and the coach himself. For the game against Bremen, Machado has relegated his first choice keeper Paulo Santos to the bench and opted to strengthen his defence with Poland’s Pawel Kieszek. He has made the move in order to relieve some of the burden weighing down on Santos.

 

“The number of goals we have conceded is certainly not just down to the goalkeeper, but is instead a reflection of the defensive performances of the team in general. We have reached a point now at which I have to protect some of my players and for that reason I won’t be starting with Santos in goal”, explained the Braga trainer.

 

Machado is hopeful that this measure will have a positive effect and push his players to beat Werder and maybe even pull off a sensation!! “It’s always an advantage to be playing at home, even if the fans are dissatisfied with things at the moment. It’s up to the teams to get the fans back on their side. We are going through a difficult period right now but if we can join the forces of the fans, the board and the city, we can pull ourselves out of this”, demanded Machado who continued confidently: “Football is full of surprises and that’s why we still believe we can reach the next round.”

 

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