Mitchell van der Gaag blames pitch slope after narrow loss to Porto
In a packed Estádio dos Barreiros, Marítimo fell 2-1 to FC Porto on the eighth round of the Primeira Liga, prompting manager Mitchell van der Gaag to vent his frustration at the officials and the unusually sloping surface.
Close call against an unbeaten side
Marítimo came within touching distance of ending FC Porto’s perfect record in the league, but the visitors secured the win despite conceding the decisive goal before halftime. The result left the home side disappointed but proud of the effort, according to their coach.
Van der Gaag praises his team despite defeat
Mitchell van der Gaag opened his post‑match comments with praise: “Despite the defeat, my team is to be congratulated and again we had a full house, with the supporters always backing us.” He highlighted the first‑half performance, noting that Marítimo “did a very well‑executed first half, of course FC Porto had more possession, but we created chances and scored the opening goal.”
He added that the team deliberately dropped deeper after the goal, anticipating Porto’s increased pressure, a tactical shift that unfortunately led to the second‑half concession.
Complaints over pitch and officiating
Van der Gaag complained about the playing surface, saying, “I didn’t know the field was so inclined at the Barreiros.” He also hinted at dissatisfaction with the refereeing, suggesting that the officials’ decisions had an impact on the match.
He described the second half as “more pressurising for FC Porto in the final third, but the stoppage time helped the team.” The manager lamented that Marítimo finished the game with all Porto players inside their own penalty area, yet it was not enough.
Reflecting on the broader picture, Van der Gaag said, “One of our objectives is always to compete, and today we did that against the current national champions. We did not make it easy for them, we scored and wanted to improve after the last game against a big side [Benfica]. A draw would have been a good reward, so we are sad.”
He concluded by noting the squad’s recent integration of new players, calling the match “like a mini pre‑season” and stressing that the team will continue to build momentum.