OH MY: Just Hours Before The Woeful Defeat To Stoke City Nicolas Schmid, John Swift & Conor Shaughnessy Made a Bold Claims About Portsmouth FC That Now Looks Completely Delusional.
Just hours before Portsmouth’s woeful 3-0 defeat to Stoke City, Nicolas Schmid, John Swift, and Conor Shaughnessy made bold claims that now appear completely delusional. The trio had confidently declared that Pompey were “ready to dominate” and “unbeatable on their best day,” with Schmid even insisting that the squad had “the depth and hunger to scare every Championship side.”
What unfolded at the bet365 Stadium told a painfully different story. Portsmouth looked disjointed, fragile, and utterly outclassed from start to finish. Stoke’s relentless pressing and clinical finishing left the visiting fans stunned and the players shell-shocked. The loss not only exposed defensive frailties but also raised serious questions about the team’s mentality and overconfidence heading into the clash.
Manager John Mousinho, visibly frustrated on the touchline, admitted post-match that his side “fell miles short” of expectations. For supporters, the contrast between the pre-match bravado and the dismal performance could not have been starker.
In a season where Portsmouth were tipped to fight for promotion, such arrogance before a crucial fixture will sting. The defeat serves as a humbling reminder: in football, confidence is earned on the pitch — not claimed in interviews.
