The Sporting CP player looks at the UEFA Europa League playoff second leg

Sporting CP player Matheus Reis previewed this Thursday's UEFA Europa League playoff against FC Midtjylland in a meeting with the media before the trip to Denmark. The defender began by addressing the first leg of the tie, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

"We knew that FC Midtjylland were a very dangerous and strong team on the counterattack, with fast wingers. We tried to take that away from them, but we lacked aggression in the last third of the pitch and in the duels. I hope we can correct that there and that we can have a more successful game", he began by saying at Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.

“We studied the first leg right after the game against GD Chaves. We looked at the moves and the mistakes we made. There was not much aggression in the last third of the field, although we rotated the ball around a lot. We have to get there and keep possession of the ball, make the opposition run after it and be more aggressive in the last third to be able to score a goal,” he emphasised.

Reis also underlined the club's ambitions in the UEFA Europa League this season.

"This is a big goal for the season. We know we represent Sporting CP, a big club, and we have to win. We're going to Denmark focused on winning and getting through this tie."
The Portuguese addressed the importance of the goal scored in the first leg, saying “That goal was good because it left everything open for us to go to Denmark and qualify. We need to believe more in ourselves and in our potential, in everything we have been building. Sometimes we don't get the results or reach our objectives, and when that doesn't happen, confidence decreases. But we have to continue working, always focused, and believe in order to get the victory."