Estoril had simply misplaced 3-1 to Sporting at Alvalade, however Ian Cathro was in an extremely optimistic temper in his post-match information convention.
“Can I put a query to you?” he requested a journalist in native-level Portuguese the final time the group from the Lisbon coast confronted Sporting away, in March 2025.
“What kind of soccer do you want to observe? Did you benefit from the recreation? In all probability you have been throughout right here in different matches and I assume you fell asleep [at some point]. We wish to do issues otherwise.”
That night time, regardless of the outcome, at instances Estoril, who play in a 5,000-capacity stadium, managed to silence greater than 35,000 house followers.
Cathro could not have been prouder to witness it.
On Friday, the 39-year-old Scottish coach might be heading again to Alvalade hoping to realize the identical, albeit with a greater final result on the pitch.
His Estoril aspect are some of the thrilling groups to observe in Portugal, averaging two objectives per recreation with 46 in 23 matches, the fourth most, and greater than league leaders FC Porto (44).
Together with Sporting, they’ve had probably the most video games scoring 4 or extra this marketing campaign (six). For the second consecutive season, a group used to combating relegation finds itself comfortably within the prime half of the desk, albeit with probably the most porous defence, having conceded 39 objectives.
The membership’s document top-flight factors tally of 54, achieved within the 2013-14 season, once they recorded their greatest end of fourth, is maybe out of attain this time period given they’re on 33 with 11 video games remaining, however even Benfica boss Jose Mourinho admitted being impressed by Cathro, saying “he is leaving his mark”.
The Scotsman’s secret? As he all the time emphasises, they play with no concern, whatever the opponent.
“I am younger, however I’ve already been by rather a lot, in quite a lot of locations. I believe I’ve already seen nearly each movie you may see in a profession on this trade,” Cathro tells BBC Sport.
“I am not right here making an attempt to win 5 video games in a row simply to make the soar. I have a look at this venture and I genuinely really feel my accountability is to assist the membership take a step to a different stage. And that different stage is extra stability, in order that nobody – completely no-one – is afraid anymore.”
The popularity for that’s definitely coming.
In January, Cathro was voted the Portuguese prime flight’s coach of the month by his friends.
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