Boavista hopes to get around the difficulties of Monday’s visit to Benfica in a game of the 21st round of the 1st Football League with a personalized view, coach Petit said this Sunday, asking for “some cheating” from the ‘chess players’.
“There are times when we don’t have the ball and we need to know how to manage and close the passing lines, but once we have them we need personality to create danger and let Benfica run after us. We also have very good players.” intense, with quality and defined processes. If we only go there to defend, we will have many difficulties. We will discuss the match,” the engineer noted at a press conference.
The Bessa club arrives in a three-game winless streak in the championship leader’s field, having lost advantages in the visits to Santa Clara (2-2 draw, in the 19th round) and Estoril Praia (2-1 defeat , in a postponed game of the 14th) and drew at home against Casa Pia (0-0, of the 20th), with Petit acknowledging having growing pains.
“In the last two games we have sent players off, but we lack acumen at times and we need to be smarter and know how to manage the game. This is part of the process and of the growth of young players who have taken the first steps in the I League. I am satisfied with their behavior. We have 26 points, but given our ambition we wanted more. We have one more game to give a good answer.”he said.
Desiring a “more awake and communicative” team, Petit wants to prevent “the process” of Boavista from changing too much in the match against Benfica, which “enters the field very strongly” and “is in a good moment”, with nine wins in the 10 games played at home on the test.
“We worked in the same way as in previous weeks, knowing that Benfica likes to have the ball and put a lot of people in the inner zone. We worked on that, but we are also in a good moment, not in terms of results, but of performance. The team is confident to play a good game and work towards winning the three points,” he stressed.
The ‘panthers’ have not won from the I Liga since their victory in Arouca (2-1, in the sixth round) and suffered the first of two defeats at home against the ‘eagles’ (3-0, in the fourth), who have “a different mindset” under the leadership of German coach Roger Schmidt.
“Benfica didn’t change their process much. Their coach’s idea is there. We played with a line of three [centrais]which is currently changed to a rule of four [defesas]. It will be a difficult game, not far from Benfica in the first round, but with Boavista completely different in his dynamics, partly due to our absence. Those who work in these positions will give a good answer,” concludes Petit.
France’s Vincent Sasso is still doubtful with an injury, while Uruguay’s Rodrigo Abascal and Colombia’s Sebastián Pérez are suspended. The Guinean Ibrahima Camará returns after a suspension against Casa Pia.
Boavista, ranked ninth, with 26 points, will visit leader Benfica, with 53, on Monday at 9:15 p.m. at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, in the final match of the 21st round of the championship, refereed by Hélder Malheiro, of the Lisbon Football Association.
Source: DN
