Sporting CP’s vice-captain Daniel Braganca singled out ‘extraordinary’ Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya after the Portuguese club’s Champions League exit.
Arsenal held a 1-0 advantage from the primary leg in Lisbon last week and managed to secure their place within the Champions League semi-final with a goalless draw on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Raya was named UEFA’s Player of the Match for his excellent performance in the primary leg as his high quality saves kept Sporting at bay.
The Spain international was only tested once by Sporting within the return leg on Wednesday evening but Braganca believes Arsenal’s goalkeeper was a key difference between the 2 sides.
‘Being eliminated for what we did hurts. It leaves a bitter taste after the sport, because we could have scored and revived the tie,’ Braganca told Sport TV.
‘In addition they had opportunities but Arsenal have a unprecedented goalkeeper who makes the goal seem small.’
Meanwhile, Sporting head coach, Rui Borges, believes Arsenal were ‘lucky’ to progress to the Champions League semi-final.
‘I can’t say it hurts. It’s an infinite pride within the team’s personality and skill,’ Borges said.
‘I believe in each games we were superior to Arsenal, they ended up being lucky with the goal at Alvalade and went through.
‘We showed character in each games, on this extraordinary atmosphere, our fans were also extraordinary. They deserved more but we have now to depart with our heads held high, for the strength and joy they demonstrated.’
Elsewhere, Sporting captain, Morten Hjulmand, bemoaned Arsenal’s delaying tactics at set-pieces and claims it disrupted Sporting’s rhythm.
‘I believe today was a balanced game. I believe the impact of the primary game, which we lost, made it harder to go to the Emirates and win, especially once we haven’t lost much at home. I knew it was going to be difficult here too besides it was a game with little intensity, no rhythm, zero goals, boring, I’d say,’ Hjulmand told CBS Sports.
‘I believe there have been plenty of interruptions through the game, so we couldn’t get the rhythm we wanted. So, yes, a bit boring if I were a spectator. 0-0, and the primary game was 1-0… that’s not how Sporting wants to indicate itself. We wish to attain goals, create opportunities and today we didn’t.
Champions League semi-final draw
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
‘Throughout the game I felt plenty of stoppages, especially on set-pieces, and that takes plenty of time away from the sport and the rhythm as well.
‘After we managed to get into the rhythm, especially in the primary half, I believe we created many opportunities to make it 1-0. But, ultimately, we didn’t create enough to win the sport, to be honest.’
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