Tirsen coach Emanuel Simões said on Tuesday that his team will try to “dignify” the unprecedented presence in the Portuguese Football Cup, against Benfica, on Wednesday, even recognizing the opponent’s favoritism.
“We will play against the best team in Portugal at this time. We know the difficulties we will have, but we also know that what brought us here was a living team, organized and with our own merit. The responsibility is to give our best,” said the coach, in advance to the first hand game, which takes place this Wednesday, at the City of Barcelos Stadium.
“The important thing is to compete with dignity”
Regarding the approach at the match, the coach stated that the Portuguese Championship team needs “humility and ajuda”, and not hiding that there will be times when Tirsen may have to “defend with a line of seven players.”
“We can’t want to share the game one for one. We need coverage, organization, intelligence. The important thing is to compete with dignity, identify where Benfica is more vulnerable and explore these zones,” he explained.
The coach of the first team of the fourth level to reach the ‘socks’ of the Portuguese Cup said he expects difficulties against a “physically very strong” opponent and praised the moment of the ‘incarnates’.
“Two days ago Benfica demonstrated his full strength in the dragon [vitória por 4-1 frente ao FC Porto]. It is a very strong team, very well worked, with several solutions. Our chances are reduced, but there are. In football, the game only ends in 90 minutes, “he stressed.
Wait for changes in Eleven Eagles’
Emanuel Simões admitted that there may be changes in Benfica’s ‘eleven’, but expects the same game model as ‘eagles’ have revealed.
“I have no doubt that Benfica will run players. But be the first, second or third line, they always have quality to create problems. The style of play should not change. It is up to us to find a way to answer,” he concluded.
With the maintenance already guaranteed in the Portugal Championship, Emanuel Simões assured that the focus is totally in this historical challenge.
“Tirsen is concerned with showing that there are good teams in the Portugal Championship, that the club is alive this half-final is a time to show ourselves to the country, and we want to grab it with everything we have,” he said.
Regarding the preparation for the challenge, the coach of the district of Porto admitted that the short margin of time between the games limited the field work.
“We played on Saturday for the championship. Only after this game, with the maintenance assured, did we manage to change the plan and focus on this meeting. It was a mini-half, but with a lot of desire. No need to motivate anyone,” he said.
Asked about the fact that the match is not held at the Abel Alves de Figueiredo Stadium, Tirsen House, the coach acknowledged that the move to Barcelos alters the spirit of the competition, but stressed that the conditions of the pitch of the minho vessel may be an advantage for his team.
“The cup should always be thrown at the small club’s house. But our lawn is in very bad conditions. In a field of I Liga, like Barcelos, we have better chance of showing our quality. In a bad field, Benfica would physically take advantage of it,” he said.
Emanuel Simões recalled that this is a unique opportunity for the club and the players.
“The Tirsena arrives here for their own merit. We are the first team of the fourth level to be at a midfield of the Cup. We represent many clubs of the Championship of Portugal. We have the responsibility to believe. We have seen surprises happen before, including teams to win in the Luz. If we do not believe, but it is worth or appear,” he said.
The coach also acknowledged that the reality of both clubs is “incomparable”, but insists that this disparity does not remove ambition.
“We are talking about the number one of the I Liga against a team that until last journey was fighting for maintenance in the Portuguese Championship. The extremes play in this game. But that does not prevent us from causing difficulties within what is within our reach,” he concluded.
The Tirsense, from the Portuguese Championship, faces Benfica, the current leader of the I Liga, on Wednesday, in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals, in a game scheduled for 20:45, at the City of Barcelos Stadium, with arbitration by David Silva, from the Porto Association.
The other midfielder opposes Sporting to Rio Ave, having the ‘Leões’, in the first game, won the villages in Lisbon, 2-0.
The last final of the Portugal Cup between the two ‘Great’ of Lisbon dates back to 1995/96, when, on May 18, 1996, at the National Stadium, in Oeiras, the ‘incarnated’ defeated the ‘green and white’, 3-1, in a final stained by the death of a sportinguist fan, hit by a very light look released from the opposite bench.
The FC Porto, winner of 20 editions of the race, including the last three, ‘fell’ on the ground of Moreirense (2-1), in the fourth elimination.
Lame
