Foot Europe UCL: My players let their heads drop and allowed Porto- Pirlo

Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo has blamed his players for their loss to Porto in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League at the Estádio do Dragão.
 
The Bianconerri fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Porto in the first leg of the last-16 tie in the Champions League, due to quick-fire goals at the start of each half. 
 
The hosts opened the scoring after just 80 seconds through Mehdi Taremi and doubled their lead 20 seconds into the second half thanks to Moussa Marega. 
 
Federico Chiesa popped up with a potentially crucial away goal towards the end to keep Juve’s hopes alive.
 
 

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Speaking in his post-match conference, Pirlo said his players let their heads drop and Porto were able to play the game that they wanted to play.
 
Our approach changed after a minute because when you concede a goal like that so early on, it knocks your confidence. 
 
“The players let their heads drop and Porto were able to play the game that they wanted to play, shutting up shop and playing on the counter. 
 
“Fortunately, we managed to get back into the tie ahead of the second leg through Chiesa’s goal. 
 
“We shouldn’t have played like that and it’s a shame. 
 
“We could’ve done better. 
 
“We had prepared for a different match. 
 
“We wanted to attack the space in the behind with our forwards and our wingers and we needed to move the ball faster because they defended well, but they gave us space out wide. 
 
“When you attack down the middle against 11 players behind the ball, everything becomes harder.”
 
With a 2-1 after the first leg, the Serie A champions will need to perform with far more intensity in the return leg. 
 
Here’s what the Bianconeri had to say at the end of the game 
 
 

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