The Arouca Chronicle
Squad21 Feb 2028
Saulo Decarli says Arouca went back on their word
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
A defender's afternoon for Mateo Flores
Defensive actions: 32. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
Nothing got past Taichi Fukui
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 30 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
Squad21 Feb 2028
Taichi Fukui in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Arouca this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
One of those days for Javi Sánchez
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.49, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Match19 Feb 2028
Arouca get the job done against Portimonense
A 1‑0 win over Portimonense, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
One of those days for Pablo Gozálbez
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.38, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Squad21 Feb 2028
Javi Sánchez is in the form of his life
A season average of 7.23 with 10 goals behind it. Opponents have started planning around him, which is the sincerest compliment football pays.
Squad21 Feb 2028
No hiding place for Tiago Esgaio
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Tiago Esgaio, and the manager let it.
In brief
- Market Arouca sign Miracle Adewole, one for the future
- Market Arouca buy the years ahead of Erwan Antonin
- Market A long bet from Arouca on Michel Chedid