Ricardo Horta, the Portuguese international, cut a figure of quiet disappointment after the game. He wasn’t fully fit and only joined the action in the final moments. The sting of defeat was clear to see on his face.
“This isn’t what we aimed for,” the Braga captain admitted openly. “We never really clicked on the field, except for the very end.” He believes the team needs to make big improvements. “The only path is forward,” Horta stressed. “We must win our next match.” He didn’t shy away from pointing out a problem. “We lack offensive bite,” he stated plainly. “We need to be more direct in our attack.” Yet, he also offered a wider view. “It’s only the fifth game,” Horta reminded everyone. “Nothing is set in stone at this stage. We will certainly get better.”