'Not the right game': Portsmouth boss addresses Gustavo Caballero decision amid criticism over Sheffield United substitutions
The Paraguayan was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Blades
John Mousinho insists it wasn’t ‘the right game’ to introduce Gustavo Caballero from the bench in Saturday’s Sheffield United defeat.
While the head coach has also moved to justify why John Swift was substituted for Marlon Pack in the 1-0 loss - and the reasoning behind Andre Dozzell not initially being withdrawn with an ankle injury.
Andre Brook’s 90th-minute winner broke Pompey hearts at Fratton Park in a match they should have won comfortably, considering the glut of goal-scoring opportunities created.
There was also criticism directed at Mousinho from some of the Blues faithful, in particular his substitution decisions from the 71st minute.
Despite making four changes, there was no introduction for Caballero, for what would have been his home debut since arriving on loan from Santos.
And while the Paraguayan winger had featured for 11 minutes at Preston the previous week, Mousinho didn’t feel it was the right occasion to throw him on against the Blades.
The Blues’ head coach told The News: ‘I didn’t really feel it was the right game to bring Gustavo on to make his home debut.
‘In those tighter games, it’s a bit more of a risk’
‘When you are 1-0 down at Preston and have nothing to lose, you throw caution to the wind - and Gus came on and I thought he did well. Although the chance Preston had at the end was when he gave the ball away, he was a bit loose.
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‘In those tighter games, it’s a bit more of a risk putting on somebody who isn’t up to the pace of the game and the intensity of the game. Particularly late on when it was very difficult to come on as a substitute, whereas starting a game is a bit different.
‘So that was the rationale behind it. I felt we were on top anyway, we were on top with the substitutions we made after 71 minutes.
‘Chris (Wilder) said in the press they were happy to take a point at that stage - and it felt like we were in the ascendancy anyway, without bringing Gustavo on.’
John Swift’s first start since New Year’s Day
Swift had been handed his first start since New Year’s Day at Bristol City, coming into the number 10 role to replace the injured Conor Chaplin.
Certainly the 30-year-old impressed in his favoured position, having often been asked to perform in a deeper midfield role since arriving at Fratton Park in July 2025.
He was withdrawn in the 71st minute, with Pack replacing him and Ebou Adams pushed into a more attacking central role.
While Adrian Segecic (dead leg) and Andre Dozzell (ankle) will both miss tomorrow night’s trip to Charlton (7.45pm), having being forced off in the second half of Saturday’s loss.
Mousinho added: ‘With John (Swift), I thought the game at that point had got a bit too random for my liking, so we tried to wrestle a bit more control in there with Marlon coming on.
‘It was also his first game for a long time, so I was pleased anyway for him to last the 71 minutes.
‘With Doz, we have hardly brought him off all season, so that wouldn’t have been a change we would naturally have wanted to make.
‘When he first went down, we checked he was feeling all right, and he was feeling fine, so we kept him on. Then we had to take him off towards the back end of the game and made those changes.’