Sporting de Braga led by Carlos Carvalhal continues to make history in Portuguese football after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Europa League, in which they will face Rangers. Carvalhal is the third coach in the history of the Portuguese club to play this tieand it does so with a clear commitment to flashy football and youth.
Not surprisingly, he has employed 14 footballers under the age of 22 since his arrival at the club last season, eight of whom played in the first leg of the quarter-final against Monaco and four in the second leg. It is one of the youngest squads in the major leagues with an average age of 24.4 yearsbut that hasn’t stopped him from playing high-level football.
In fact, Carvalhal is the only coach in Braga’s 100-year history to have led the team to the Taça de Portugal finals, a trophy that won last season, the Taça de la Liga and the Portuguese Super Cup. Quite an achievement in the ‘arsenalist’ team, which in his case adds the emotional component of being his hometown and where he began his first steps as a player.
In addition, Braga has become, thanks to Carvalhal, one of the sensations of this Europa League: It is the team that finishes the most on goal, 178 shots on goal, the second that scores the most goals (17)the second with the most ball recoveries (405) and the only one who has not conceded a goal in four of his six games.
“I am grateful, to Braga and to football, for these moments, for living a kilometer from the stadium, for living through three finals, a Taça de Portugal and a spectacular journey in the Europa League pitching youngsters. I am grateful to football, the club and my players”comments the coach on the great moment of the ‘archbishops’.
About the new tie in the continental competition, Carlos Carvalhal is excited and eager to continue making history: “You have to enjoy being among the top eight teams in the Europa League, it’s fantastic. We know the youth of the team, but we live a spectacular moment at Sporting de Braga in a year of clear commitment to training & rdquor ;.