Daniel Bragança: We deserved to have scored first and revived ….

Daniel Bragança, Sporting player, in statements made in the Flash Interview on Sport TV after the 0-0 draw against Arsenal , in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, which resulted in the Lions’ elimination from the competition.

Bitter result

We ended up leaving with a bitter taste. After the game we played, I think we could have scored and revived the tie. They could also have scored at times. But I think we deserved to have scored first and revived the tie. It didn’t happen. They also have a great goalkeeper, who sometimes makes the goal seem smaller, that has to be pointed out. And we ended up losing 1-0 and going out this way. But we must highlight the excellent journey we had up to this point.

Goal conceded at Alvalade

Yes, it ends up being a learning experience. In that play, I also ended up being involved in the situation. I ended up jumping earlier than I should have, a little too wide. Ousmane [Diomande] was free and [Maxi] Araújo was marking Viktor [Gyokeres], it was a collective mistake. It happens, and we know that the slightest mistake in this competition can be fatal. And then, the truth is that we couldn’t score. I think it also comes down to that, because we had quite a few chances, both here and, especially, there, and we couldn’t score. I don’t know what to explain about that; I mean, as I said: the goalkeeper is very good, and that’s just how he is.

Was Sporting as great as the greatest in Europe”?

I think so. This year we showed that we can compete against the best in Europe, it’s been proven. We have to be proud of what we’ve done so far and now it’s over for us. Now we have to focus on what’s left, which is the league and the Portuguese Cup.