THE Gil Vicente’s coach, Luís Pinto, considered today that the team will have to perform “at the best level” to counter Benfica’s solidity and offensive quality in the quarter-finals of the Football League Cup.
“We expect Benfica to be extremely solid, as it has been throughout the season, and with a very high offensive quality. It will require our best level to compete and be able to pass this round”, stated the coach.
In anticipation of the trip to Estádio da Luz, scheduled for Thursday, Luís Pinto highlighted the depth of the ‘red’ squad, considering that the changes made between games do not compromise the opponent’s competitiveness.
“The solutions they have allow them to be a very competent and competitive team in all games”, he observed, ensuring that the Barcelona team approach the tie with the ambition of “moving forward” to the ‘final four’.
“We are going with the maximum ambition possible. We want to reach the Estádio da Luz and overcome this tie and remain in this competition”, he assured, admitting to making changes to the team due to the accumulation of games.
However, he rejected any intention of sparing players as he considered the League Cup less important than the championship: “There will be some changes, but the team we will present will be one that gives us, at least from a theoretical point of view, the guarantee of being able to compete at the Estádio da Luz in the knockout stage”.
Winner of the last edition of the League Cup with Vitória de Guimarães, Luís Pinto acknowledged that the competition brings back good memories, but highlighted that he intends to build new memories with Gil Vicente.
“We always believe that we can do things that can leave an impact on our lives. We have to have the humility to be very competent and understand that we are going to have a hugely demanding game”, he highlighted.
The coach also challenged the current format of the League Cup, defending the return to a more comprehensive model, which allows clubs to play more matches and better prepare for the start of the championship.
“I think this competition should be played by all clubs. It shouldn’t be so restricted”, he stated, referring to the fact that the League Cup is contested by the top six teams from the previous edition of the I League and the top two from the II League.
Asked about Benfica’s recent criticism of the refereeing, Luís Pinto avoided fueling controversy and expressed confidence in the refereeing team’s performance.
“I want to believe in everyone’s competence, goodwill and seriousness. We want the scales to be balanced, but we want that in every game”, he stressed.
After the defeat against FC Porto, in the championship, the coach highlighted the importance of learning lessons from meetings with bigger opponents, especially for a squad with several players who are not used to this level of demand.
“We were not happy with the result, but we were also not resentful in our process and in our belief that what we are doing is being done well”, he concluded.
Gil Vicente visits Benfica on Thursday, at 8:45 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, in a League Cup quarter-final match, led by referee José Bessa, from the Porto Football Association.
