Sporting Braga manager Carlos Vicens voiced strong frustration over his team’s defensive performance after they conceded four goals at home in a 4-2 Europa League loss to Genk, marking their first defeat in the competition’s group stage.
Vicens emphasized the unacceptability of such a defensive showing. He stated, “You cannot concede four goals at home.” The defeat ended a three-match winning streak for Braga in the competition.
The coach cited critical errors, including an equalizer allowed in the final moments of the first half. He described this as a goal that “should not have happened” as it was “out of time.”
Braga also conceded a goal immediately after scoring to narrow Genk’s lead to 3-2. Vicens described this as a “mistake we cannot repeat,” noting the team had felt close to equalizing.
Vicens attributed some of the team’s struggles to player fatigue. He noted many players had logged significant minutes, leading to a “lack of freshness.”
Despite the defensive issues, Vicens praised his squad’s attitude, saying they “left everything on the field.” He acknowledged the team’s ball circulation and high pressure, but also admitted to crucial ball losses.
Braga created numerous chances but failed to convert them into enough goals. Vicens reflected, “Today we couldn’t turn our play into more goals.”
The manager reiterated the team’s ambition to win. However, he admitted that Genk managed to control possession at times, contributing to the outcome.