Artur Jorge said this Saturday that this has been one of the best seasons for Sporting de Braga and highlighted his ambition to beat Gil Vicente to continue fighting for the first places in the I Football League.
Gil Vicente’s coach, Daniel Sousa, compared, this Saturday, this Sporting de Braga team with the Braga teams led by Domingos Paciência in 2009/10 and 2010/11 “for the quality shown and the results”.
“I understand the comparisons because, in terms of numbers, we have had, if not the best, one of the best seasons for Sporting de Braga and we are still seven games from the end and we can extend those records. But [esse elogio do treinador contrário] it can also be a way to sweeten ourselves. Since we are in the first places, they may also want to create instability due to the fact that Domingos’ team [Paciência] having fought until the end for the title of champion. We are fighting for second and third place and we have to stay calm and not worry about the analysis they make of us. If the intention is to say that we are having a quality championship, with above-average records within Sporting Braga, I agree with that,” said the Braga coach.
Braga thrashed Nacional, from the II Liga, 5-0 this Wednesday in Madeira, in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semifinals, and their presence in the final is practically assured, in the last official match of the season in Portugal.
Gil Vicente, for his part, has not won for more than a month (2-0 against Marítimo, at home, on March 5, on matchday 23), since then adding two draws -the last two results- and two defeats , but managed to win in Dragão against FC Porto (2-1) and draw, more recently, with Sporting (0-0, at home).
“[Esses resultados] They are one more piece of information, even if it is statistical, that shows the quality of the rival we will have tomorrow [domingo]. We are prepared for this return to the championship and we want to continue what we have been doing to be able to fight for the first places, ”he said at the press conference prior to the reception of the gilistas, on Sunday, of matchday 28.
Artur Jorge devalued the negative cycle of Gil Vicente, highlighting the recognition of the “individual and collective quality” of the Barcelos team and the importance that the Sporting de Braga players have to “be very equal” to themselves.
“We want to keep the usual records, to be the most effective team in the championship, and we need that efficiency to be able to overcome Gil Vicente, who will try to score points,” he said.
Artur Jorge praised Gil Vicente, highlighting players like Fran Navarro, Fujimoto, Murilo and Marín and pointing out that it is a team that tries to play from behind.
“We respect the rival, but, recognizing their potential, we want to be the ones who hurt them and hopefully they won’t even hurt Sporting de Braga,” he said.
Banza scored five goals against Nacional (he scored two, gave an assist and conceded two penalties) and the coach praised the performance of the French striker, but did not guarantee his starting position against the gilistas, although he admitted that he could play with two more. fixed spearheads.
“He played a great game, like others who had less playing time, that’s why we have a squad full of options and we will present the best ‘eleven’ to play with Gil Vicente”, he said.
The overtaking of the Netherlands in the UEFA ranking, which dictates the loss of a team in the Champions League from the 2024/25 season, was commented on by the Braga coach.
“It is a negative piece of information with immediate consequences, but our league has teams that can perform better in European competitions and, in this way, we can recover that position, because France is also very close,” he said.
Castro, who was injured in Madeira, is out for the match against the gilistas, as is Sequeira, who is still out of shape.
Sporting de Braga, third ranked, with 62 points, and Gil Vicente, 13th, with 31, will face each other starting at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, a match that will be refereed by Rui Costa, from the Porto Association.
Source: TSF
