“ANDWe expect a competitive game, as everyone is, against a very strong opponent and a team that, from an individual point of view, is, admittedly, one of the strongest in our championship”, said the coach, in the press conference room at the Madeira Stadium, in Funchal.
After the draw in the debut against Santa Clara (2-2), Gião asked the players to maintain the “same attitude and competitive mentality” that they had after losing 2-0, as only then will it be possible to beat an Estoril team that “maintained a great base of players” and showed good arguments in the first round, in the home draw against Famalicão (1-1).
“Estoril is a team that likes to play and played a good game against Famalicão, at home. I would even say that for the overwhelming majority of the time they were superior, they dominated the game and created many difficulties for Famalicão”, he highlighted.
With 11 signings already secured, the Madeiran ‘helmsman’ still expects to welcome a few more players until the market closes, namely a left-back who can compete with José Gomes, as well as a striker capable of making Jesus Ramírez, who left for Çorum FK, from Türkiye, forgotten.
With a slight physical problem, Bolivian winger Fernando Nava is expected to be “out of the game”, thus joining the likely absence of defender José Gomes, who is recovering from an injury to the lower rib area and is unlikely to be fit.
To replace the full-back, Wesley Gasolina is one of the options to consider, as he “has played on the left in the past”, as has Daniel de la Cruz, an “agile player” who fulfills the role.
Despite it not going well, “especially in the initial phase” of the game in the Azores, the 39-year-old coach does not rule out adapting winger Markus Jensen again, preferring not to reveal who will be chosen.
Nacional and Estoril Praia face off on Sunday, starting at 3:30 pm, at the Madeira Stadium, in Funchal, under arbitration by Bruno Costa, from the Viana do Castelo association.
