Benfica boss warns before cup tie: We must match their effort | OneFootball

Ivan Baptista hopes to count on a serious team in the Portuguese Cup match. In statements to the official channels of Benfica, the coach expressed ambition against the modest Damaiense. However, he warned that the players must approach the queen competition's duel with seriousness.

“Damaiense and these teams that play against Benfica, which are not, theoretically, favorites, always tend to rise to the occasion,” Ivan Baptista began by saying in statements to BTV, emphasizing that in these competitions, the result is decided on the field.

“It's up to us to match those motivational levels because it's a competition we really want to win and we know that, to win it, we have to overcome these rounds,” added the coach, following a less positive result in the Champions League against Barcelona, last Wednesday, December 10th.

“Approach this game as we have approached all games this season — particularly this month, where games have been happening every three days — in a very serious and professional manner,” emphasized the coach of the Inspiradoras, in the preview of the Portuguese Cup match.

“Even so, it is a task we have to do as a coaching staff, in order to understand which type of players can help us more and which are more available, from a physical and mental standpoint, to give the best possible response in the next game. This is how we will approach the preparation for this match,” concluded Ivan Baptista.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.