When the final whistle blew on the Casa Pia-Estoril match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, manager Ian Cathro wasn’t interested in talking about whether the result felt “fair.” Instead, he offered a frank, almost blunt, assessment of how the season has started for his Estoril squad. The coach, affectionately known as the “canarinhos” boss, made it clear that his players need some time off. They are tired, he suggested, hinting at the difficulties they’ve faced with a particularly memorable phrase.
“I don’t like to look at a football game as a fair or unfair result,” Cathro stated. “It’s a waste of time.” He continued by expressing his belief that his players truly need a break. He feels they did exceptional work last season. That success, he explained, led to much higher expectations for this campaign. However, this season has begun “with doubts and controversies.” He didn’t hold back when describing one early playing surface: “We played on a field not even fit for cows.”
The team’s early schedule has also been tough. They were forced to play a game during a FIFA international break. This meant their first real rest period only now arrives. On top of that, luck hasn’t been on their side. In just five games, Estoril has conceded four penalties. Even when they got ahead, victory proved elusive. They scored first in four of those matches, yet only managed to win one of them. These kinds of setbacks create immense frustration, Cathro admitted. It feels like you’re prepared for good results, but they just aren’t materializing. This can add extra pressure to every decision, both on and off the field.
The players simply need to rest and switch off for a bit. Cathro stressed the importance of a “reset.” They need to return with the renewed energy they showed in the second half of the draw against Casa Pia. He then explained his decision to make three substitutions at half-time. The goal, he said, was straightforward: “We looked to bring in completely new, refreshed energy.” They wanted to reduce the time Casa Pia had for decision-making and ball movement in the first half. The players who came on successfully achieved this. Estoril started winning more balls deeper, collected more second balls, held onto possession better, and linked their play faster.