Confident Sporting's Ferreira hailed his team in NexLions Cup win

Coach Ferreira never doubt his team's ability

FINAL: Sporting Lisbon U19 2-0 Liverpool U19

For a team that prided itself for producing many wonderful players throughout the year, one shall not fault Sporting Lisbon U19 coach Abel Ferreira for showing that kind of confidence during the post-match press conference following his side's 2-1 win over their more popular opponents Liverpool.

"Are you surprised that my team won?" queried the former Sporting player in English at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) boardroom at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

This came after no question from the media was asked in the first place when requested by the emcee at the gathering.

An impressive Sporting clinched the NexLions Cup

When the mood set in, the former defender begun to take some questions from the floor and mentioned the following (as far as I could remember).

"To me, every player in my team is special and it's not just about one or two players becoming the next (Cristiano) Ronaldo or (Luis) Figo." said Ferreira when asked to single out a player in his squad to be the next big thing out from the Sporting Academy to emulate two of its most illustrious graduates.

Liverpool's skipper Adam Morgan (right) struggled in the match

"And we are here not for holiday, but to complete and win the tournament." reaffirmed the promise he said in the pre-tournament press conference.

For the record, the Verde-e-Brancos scored in the 46th minute through Luka Stojanvic with substitute Luis Cortez doubled the tally late at the game (Cortez had the longest warming up prior to his call of duty).

Cortez (left) reaped his dividends with a late strike

3rd/4th Placing Match: Manchester United 2-1 Singapore Youth Selection
Manchester United clinched the third spot of the tournament after beating Singapore Youth Selection 2-1 in other match played earlier of the day.

Gaining advantage in the air

It was a poor first half display with lack of flair to thrill the crowds other than a notable few on the right wing of Man U's attacking side that caused a few anxious moments for their penetration from that flank.

The match eventually got into the groove when the hosts took the lead via the penalty kick that eventually set the game to change the pace and saw the boys from the United academy came from behind to net in two goals to seal the match.

“The boys did their best,” said Singapore Youth Selection coach Aide Iskandar after the match. “We only had three and a half week to prepare for this tournament, unlike the foreigner teams who train together since young.

"It is never easy to play two games in three days. We gave United a good fight but they were the better side." added the former Singapore captain.

Singapore (red) failed to defuse and allowed Man Utd to level

Sharing his assessment of this inaugural tournament, Manchester United's U19 coach Paul McGuiness said:“This is a good simulation of the first team event, playing in the different conditions. A simulation for what can happen for these boys in the future.

“We have to get used to that, being in a foreign country, with the pressure, uncomfortable conditions. Its what they need to be as a football player.”

(PS: Quotes of coaches Aide and McGuiness extracted from the tournament official media release made available after the match.)

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