The Farense coach said today that his team is prepared to counter a Benfica team that wants to give a different image after their European elimination, in Monday's game of the 30th round of the I Football League.
«They are games with completely different characteristics. We know the way Benfica will act and we know that these 'big' teams don't like and don't lose two games in a row", said José Mota, at the press conference previewing the match.
The 'reds', second placed in the I League, seven points behind leader Sporting, travel to the Algarve stronghold after being eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday by Marseille, who won 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out, after leveling the tie with a 1-0 score that remained until the end of extra time, at the Vélodrome Stadium.
José Mota stressed that teams like Benfica «manage, in mental terms, to have a very strong balance» and that their players and coach «understand the dimension of what it means to be at Benfica».
«Therefore, I expect a Benfica in its image, very strong trying to resolve the game as quickly as possible – which is the prerogative of 'big' teams – and that will want to impose its pace of play», he added.
The Farense coach stressed that his players have to “be very well prepared at this stage of the game”, to counter “all this power”.
«We also realized that, in psychological terms, this team wants to present an image and have a different result to the one they had in the Europa League», he said.
Anticipating «a very competitive game», José Mota stated that he expects his players «to have strong concentration and determination» and to play «in the image» of what they have done in this championship, «namely in the confrontation with the so-called 'big guys'».
Midfielder Mattheus Oliveira and striker Bruno Duarte, the team's top scorer in the I League, with 11 goals, will be absent due to punishment, but the Farense coach was not worried.
«Everyone who will be called up will respond with all their desire and determination, and try to play a good game in a collective sense. Our team is worth it exactly for its collective and way of being. (…) We will be prepared not only to try to nullify Benfica's power, but also to make our individualities and, fundamentally, our collective come to the fore », he declared.
José Mota asked Farense fans to be present and continue “giving the name 'fortaleza de Faro'” to the São Luís Stadium, galvanizing his team against a Benfica team that also “draws crowds”.
«It will be a spectacular atmosphere. What my players and I want is to play a good game, demonstrate what we are and what we are worth, and try to get a good result", he concluded.
Farense, 10th placed, with 31 points, and Benfica, second, with 70, face each other on Monday, at 20:15 pm, at the São Luís Stadium, in Faro, with arbitration by Gustavo Correia, from the Porto association.
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