THE President of União da Serra considered today that motivation could overcome Sporting’s talent and best formation, in the Portuguese Football Cup match, expressing the desire for the ‘lions’ to play at full strength.
“It will be a moment when motivation can really overcome talent and the best formation that Sporting will have”, said Amândio Santos, speaking to Canal 11, after the draw that dictated the reception of the ‘lions’, at the José Alvalade Stadium, against União da Serra, from the Campeonato de Portugal, the fourth tier of Portuguese football, in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup.
Stressing that the tie will be special for the club from the Leiria district, the director said that he would like Sporting to perform with the best, despite recognizing the differences between the two teams, and highlighted the players’ motivation to face one of the largest clubs in Portuguese football.
União Desportiva da Serra, a club from the parish of Santa Catarina da Serra, in the municipality of Leiria, occupies fifth place in Series 3 of the Portuguese Championship.
The trip to Estádio José Alvalade coincides with the club’s 50th anniversary, which takes place on Tuesday, and comes at a time when the team reached, for the first time in its history, this stage of the Portuguese Cup.
“It’s really a happy coincidence. We are extremely motivated and happy to be able to play this tie against Sporting,” said the president.
The director also recalled that União da Serra took around 300 fans to the stronghold of Vitória de Setúbal, which the Leirienses won on penalties (4-2, after 1-1 in 120 minutes), and hopes to have more supporters in Alvalade, depending on the day and time of the game.
“In Setúbal, we took a mass of associations that, for us, already has an impact, with around 300 people in the stadium”, he said, hoping that the trip to Alvalade will allow us to gather even more supporters.
The director also highlighted the team’s recent campaign, which has not lost at home for around three years, and stated that the club will prepare the tie to give a good response, despite the differences between the two teams.
“We really have some quality, or a lot of quality for our level, and the results of recent years have really reflected that,” he said.
The presence in the Portuguese Cup is also generating commercial opportunities for the club. “A sponsor has already called me to put the brand on our socks”, revealed Amândio Santos.
The fourth round games of the Taça de Portugal are scheduled for the 21st and 22nd of November.
