“ANDWe are prepared to give a good response within our idea of the game, within our standard and within what we have become accustomed to. We are in this position (fourth place) with a lot of merit and a lot of quality. Knowing that he is a candidate for the title, but it is about looking Benfica in the eye and playing in the game”, he stated.
The Santa Clara coach was speaking at a press conference at the São Miguel stadium, in Ponta Delgada, on the eve of the reception to Benfica.
The Azoreans, who are making the best start ever in the club’s history in the championship (with five wins and three draws in eight games), are coming off their first defeat of the season against Mafra in the Portuguese Cup (3-2, after extra time).
Petit highlighted that the team “learned its lesson” from the defeat against Mafra and assured that the players want to “react” against Benfica.
“We expect a difficult game, but we also hope to give a good reaction, playing at home, with our fans. Knowing that on the other side there is a team with a lot of quality”, he stressed.
The coach stated that Santa Clara wants to “continue its good performance” in the I League, anticipating a “good game” between the Azoreans and the ‘eagles’, who are separated by just one point in the standings.
“(Benfica) is a team that works a lot in a 4-4-2, with very high lines. We analyzed what we can explore, never deviating from our standard and our idea of the game. Then, it’s about having confidence and personality on the ball and knowing, when we don’t have the ball, what we have to do. In those moments we will have to know how to suffer”, he stressed.
Petit highlighted Benfica’s offensive quality, which this season has already scored more than 50 goals in all competitions, but recalled that Santa Clara is the best defense in the championship with four goals conceded (equal to FC Porto).
“We expect a strong opponent, who in offensive terms has scored 50 goals in 17 games. We have also maintained defensive cohesion, together with Porto, in the best defense. But also in attack we are the fifth team with the most scoring opportunities in the championship”, he reinforced.
Santa Clara, fourth placed with 18 points, will face Benfica, second with 19, on Monday, at 17:45 local time (18:45 in Lisbon), at the São Miguel Stadium, in Ponta Delgada, with refereeing by Cláudio Pereira, from the Aveiro association.
