Sporting fans hailed by Barcelona's Wilde
Friday, April 24, 2015
Article summary
Wilde scored twice to help FC Barcelona into the final but praised the Sporting Clube de Portugal players and fans, a competition record crowd that made João Benedito proud.
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• Wilde scored twice to help Barcelona to a 5-3 semi-final win and praised hosts Sporting
• Of the competition-record crowd of 12,076 he said: "I have never sern anything like this"
• Dyego knows final opponents Kairat will be "dangerous" on Sunday
• Sporting keeper João Benedito, forced off through injury, said they were "true warriors"
• The captain added of the fans: "What we experienced today here was unique"
Wilde, Barcelona forward
We knew it would be very difficult to play against Sporting, they are a very physical team and they played the entire match like that. It was almost impossible to control the ball; we had to make a lot of movement to deliver the ball. We won and I am very happy to be in the final. We deserve it.
I have never seen anything like this [the crowd]. I have played many, many matches and I have never seen anything like this. I have to congratulate Sporting for what they did inside the arena, for futsal this is very beautiful. It's a shame that only one of us could make the final.
It was a great match, very even. I think our experience in the end was important.
On Sunday it will be also difficult against players that we know very well, that played in the Spanish Liga. It's a different team from all the others because they play most of the time with their goalkeeper acting as an outfield player. We have to play well in defence and not concede easy goals but it will be very hard.
Dyego, Barcelona forward
I am very happy to be man of the match but even happier to have guaranteed our place in the final, which was our goal. All the team have to be congratulated, we ran a lot, we fought a lot and it was a very difficult match indeed.
Sporting also deserve some credit for the way they managed to equalise [making it 3-3]. We didn't play that part of the game well, we were defending too near to our box and that was a mistake. We tried to win until the very last minute and that is what happened with seconds to go.
Kairat will be very difficult, they play a lot with their goalkeeper [outfield]. They are a very dangerous team, we have to mark correctly and find a way to eliminate their strengths.
João Benedito, Sporting goalkeeper
We were true warriors, we honoured all the people that were here. We gave our best, beyond our capacities. The winners are always fair winners but we have to praise Sporting's attitude in all parts of the club. If we can forget the illusion of trying to win, it becomes real and we will always manage to go beyond our capacities as happened today here. I’m proud to belong to this team.
What we experienced today here was unique. It is a long time since I have seen such a communion between a team and a crowd.
My injury? Suspected Achilles tendon tear. Now I have to recover.