THEDespite recognizing the demands of the clash, the coach assumed that the Ribatejo fans are prepared to try to stop Marco Silva’s good form.
“We are aware of who we are and who we are going to play against. We prepared the game with some strategic care. We are not going to give up on our idea, but we want to be consistent and maintain the belief of wanting to do things well collectively. This game is another opportunity for us to grow”, admitted Sérgio Ferreira, at a press conference.
Despite the absence of central defender Steven Baseya and winger André Vidigal, both suspended, it guarantees that the Ribatejos will be a cohesive team at Estádio da Luz.
“We believe in everyone and whoever comes in will be prepared for these moments. We have to be an extremely consistent team defending. We won’t deviate from our standard of play, but we have to recognize that, on the other side, we have a very competent and capable Benfica, who can change the game from one moment to the next”, he said.
Diogo Spencer returns to Luz with the Alverca shirt after training at Benfica and being launched into the first team ‘incarnated’ by Roger Schmidt, in the 2023/24 season.
Sérgio Ferreira’s bet at the start of the season, the Ribatejo coach believes in the young winger’s potential.
“This season he has played on the left and on the right because we recognize his ability and he has managed to respond. He has to be focused on training and the game to be able to respond affirmatively at a higher level than Alverca. I believe that this game could touch him on a more personal level, but he is a great professional, he is identified with the process and loyal to what we have asked of him on an individual level”, he expressed.
Alverca, 10th in the I Football League, with 11 points, will face Benfica, second in the table, with 22, on Monday, at 8:15 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in a game on the 10th round of the championship, refereed by Bruno Costa, from the Viana do Castelo association.
