Joao Moutinho backs under-fire Polga
“Sporting are stronger than last year” says captain
 Sporting captain Joao Moutinho has defended under-fire defender Anderson Polga, saying the blame for poor results has to be shared equally around the team. The Portugal midfielder remains confident that the Lions can fight to win the Liga Sagres.
In an interview given to Maisfutebol/TVI24 Moutinho made a point of backing Brazilian team-mate Polga. The centre-back has been heavily criticised for his performances so far this season, but Moutinho says he has the full support of the whole of the squad.
“Of course he has! He’s an excellent player. He has a lot of quality. Unfortunately things haven’t gone as well for him as he would like, but he’s not the only one. Things also haven’t gone as well for me or my team-mates as we would like, because we haven’t won our games.
“At this club it’s not just one player who loses a game – we all lose it. He knows that. Polga, like all of us, will have the full support of the squad to give his best and contribute towards Sporting victories.”
Rectifying poor starts
The pocket dynamo emphasised the need for Sporting to start games better but believes the team is on the right track.
“We have had highs and lows, but we have been recovering well. We have to start games better. We’ve conceded goals in first 10-15 minutes and this can’t continue to happen. It forces us to chase the game.
“It’s a situation that we are not happy with and we have to try to correct. We hope in the next match against Hertha we don’t concede goals and we score first, so we can control the game.”
Championship quest
Moutinho also said he thinks that Sporting are a better team than last season, and has set his sights on proving the critics wrong and lifting the Portuguese championship title in May.
“I think we have a stronger team. When you change things to add high-quality players the team always improves a little. Sporting’s big objective this year is to win the championship, because we’ve won cups but the league is the most important title in Portugal.
“It’s true that we are eight points behind the leaders but we’re only in the 6th round of matches and there is a long way to go.
“Sporting Braga are in very good form. Benfica and FC Porto too, but we have to think only of ourselves. We want to improve and win, because each game that we play we know we can cut the gap and we want to do so as quickly as possible.”
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As a Sporting supporter it frustrates me watching this man week in and out exposing us to the opposing team almost anytime we're on the defense.