Armando Evangelista assures that the Arouca players recovered from the defeat against Estoril, at the start of the League, and that they are motivated for the duel on Saturday (18 hours) with Benfica, referring to the 2nd round.
“We didn’t have the start we wanted, but the players are aware of the opportunity of competing in the League against a Champions team. In these games the motivation is not affected. We are doing well in soul terms. We want to show our value in these games so that they look at Arouca with respect, we don’t want them to look at us as a poor partner in the League. It is with this motivation that we will face this game», he said in the preview of the match at Estádio da Luz.
«We will find a very strong Benfica, we know that we will have to suffer, to work hard, to be a team in the true sense of the word. But we are not going to run away from our identity, nor our way of thinking about the game», he added.
After visiting Luz, Arouca, which this year is back in the top level of Portuguese football, has a meeting with FC Porto, also away, on the fourth round, and in the eighth round they host the champion Sporting. A demanding schedule that Armando Evangelista sees as an “opportunity, not a problem.”
“Facing the top three of last season early is an added difficulty, but we have to look at it as a moment of learning so that we can grow as a team and put into practice our individual and collective strengths.”
The coach also confirmed that Anthony is still awaiting the international certificate that will allow him to join the League and, therefore, will not be an option for the game against Benfica, as is Yaw Moses, the only athlete delivered to the club’s clinical department. Already João Basso returns to options after serving punishment.
On the theme of reinforcements, Armando Evangelista addressed the question: «I want to focus on the players who are here and it was with them that we prepared and are going to this game. I don’t want to think about who might arrive. These were the ones that gave us good results last season and the possibility of being in the League. Let’s focus on those who are here, who deserve the utmost respect.”
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