Sporting player leaves message on social media, admits that since the international break in March he hasn’t been at his best mentally and speaks of the fear of getting injured.
Sporting Lisbon footballer Pedro Gonçalves apologized on Tuesday afternoon for one of the worst defeats in the club’s history and admitted that, since the March break (when he was with the national team but didn’t play against Mexico and the USA), he hasn’t been at his best mentally. After thinking and calming down, I want to apologize for one of the worst defeats in the club’s history. I have always accepted any criticism, I am not afraid, and I admit that I was not at the level this club demands. Mentally, since I came back from the March break, I haven’t been at my best. My body wanted to, but my head was always on the ‘handbrake’ for fear of getting injured. It seems easy, but those who are there know how difficult it is, he began writing in a message shared on Instagram, two days after the 2-1 defeat against Torreeense in the Portuguese Cup final.
Pedro Gonçalves then recalled memories of his journey during his youth training and when he left his parents’ home in Vidago to pursue a career in football, with the dream of reaching a World Cup for Portugal.
That kid who left home without his parents at age 11, went to Spain alone and spent a year without competing, dreamed of being able to be in a World Championship and that was one of my biggest goals this year,” he acknowledged, saying he is “a person who likes to win” and that he doesn’t settle “and always tries to improve.”
“Six seasons at the club, seven titles and six lost finals. It’s sad to have so few titles. I thank Bruna who pushes me every day to be a better person. Now, I’m going to enjoy a vacation with her and my two daughters, to recharge my batteries and come back stronger,” concluded Pedro Goncalves, now focusing on spending some time with his family.
The 27-year-old Portuguese international won three league titles with Sporting (2021, 2024 and 2025), two League Cups (2021 and 2022), one Super Cup (2021) and one Portuguese Cup (2025).
This Tuesday, midfielder and captain Morten Hjulmand also reacted again, with a message on social media , following the statements he also made minutes after the defeat at Jamor .