The final whistle blew, leaving Rio Ave with just one point against Arouca. For coach Sotiris Silaidopoulos, the draw felt like a missed opportunity. He was quick to state his team played far better than their opponents.
“It was an electric game,” Silaidopoulos told reporters, adding, “I think the fans must have enjoyed it.” He found it tactically interesting. “With all due respect to Arouca, I believe we played much better,” he insisted. Rio Ave held more possession. They also created the best chances to score. The team even showed courage to come back in the game. But some small details were still missing.
Silaidopoulos pointed to the goal conceded in the last minute. “That moment wasn’t about tactics,” he explained, “it was about focus.” He also spoke highly of Clayton, a vital player for the team. “I am very happy to have him,” the coach said. “But I’m even happier about his commitment to the club.”
This wasn’t the first time Rio Ave had let a win slip away. “We could have finished off the game against Nacional,” Silaidopoulos recalled. “Today was the same.” Despite the frustration, he remains optimistic. “We are creating opportunities,” he noted. “The results will surely appear.” Silaidopoulos believes the team is in the middle of a larger plan. “We are building something,” he declared. He feels that even these tough games “give us confidence” as they move forward.