A draw can feel like a win sometimes, but not for Carlos Vicens. The coach made it clear he wasn’t exactly thrilled, even after snatching a point on the road. His team journeyed to Rio Ave’s home in Vila do Conde, and while avoiding a loss was good, the bigger prize slipped away.
“It’s better to draw than lose, that’s true,” Vicens said later. “But we’re not happy. Our first-half play wasn’t what we aimed for. Then, in the second half, after all we put in, we really could have won the game.” He pointed out the equalizer came very late. Not much time was left on the clock after they finally scored. That late goal left everyone with a strong feeling: they simply need to do more, and do it better.
No Excuses
When asked about game stoppages affecting play, Vicens brushed it aside. He refused to blame outside factors. “I can’t use that as an excuse,” he stated directly. “We just have to be better. Football has many twists and turns, and we must rise above them.”
The team has been having some serious talks, both right after the game and in recent weeks. Vicens mentioned the lessons learned. Against AVS, for example, two simple errors undid all their hard work. Those mistakes, he explained, cost them a home victory despite playing well. Then came games against Tondela and Alverca, where they gave opponents openings they never should have. These repeated issues have been a big topic of discussion. Even veteran players like Moutinho have contributed to these frank locker room sessions.
“We need more focus,” Vicens stressed. “We need to be more consistent right from the start. And we absolutely must finish our chances in the final third of the field.” The big takeaway from the Rio Ave match hit him hard. “Scoring two goals away from home should be enough to win,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough this time, and that means we have to keep working. We need a better first half, fewer chances given away, and our absolute best version of the team from the very first whistle.”
