Atlético boss on key factor that could shape Benfica clash: We tried... | OneFootball

Pedro Basto D’Oliveira explained the impact of Atlético not facing Benfica at their own stadium, Tapadinha. The match, part of the Portuguese Cup, will take place at Restelo, and the coach of the Liga 3 team has already had the opportunity to speak with journalists in a press conference previewing the tie of the queen of competitions.

The Atlético coach began by addressing a key absence for Benfica: “Since it’s a different context, a cup match, we have to prepare for everyone, even those who have played less or some players from the B team. That’s why the preparation for Lukebakio was very similar to that for João Rego or Ivan Lima, all playing out wide, so we are prepared for any of them. The only certainty we have is that Lukebakio won’t play, so we take the focus off him and put it on the other options who can play out wide.”

“For me, and I think for everyone, he is one of the greatest of all time. He marked not only my generation, but all previous ones, everyone saw what José Mourinho is. What football coaching was before and after Mourinho. He has very unique characteristics, it’s not just about being a coach, but about his way of being. He’s a born strategist, a leader in terms of communication, he always has the 22/25 with him. There are small things we identify in José Mourinho’s teams, and yes, there are specificities we have to be prepared for,” Pedro Basto D’Oliveira then said about the challenge of facing Benfica’s coach.

Before commenting on the obligation to play the match away from home, he analyzed the Club of Light: “It’s very difficult. Since the start of the year we’ve had 12 matches, since José Mourinho came in there have already been 12 games, so the competitive rhythm is completely different. It doesn’t make sense to talk much about weaknesses or opportunities. We look at the match the same way, but the time and space are much smaller. In our preparation, we looked a little at ourselves, what we can do differently and better, what we’re missing. Then, the strategic part, with a bit more humility than has been our context, looking at that, but it’s very hard to say. And I’m not the one who’s going to say what Benfica’s weaknesses or opportunities are.”

“We tried, everyone wanted to play at Tapadinha. The SAD, the club, players, fans, coaching staff, everyone wanted to play at home, the place we always consider our home, where we always feel closer to winning. Since that wasn’t possible, the second objective was to have our people close to us, as many as possible. That’s why Restelo Stadium was a very good option, on a Friday night, to make us feel at home and have our people on our side. When we’re small, we want to play with a full stadium. I think it’s good for us, to have more eyes on us, especially from our own people. If it happens, we can only gain from it,” concluded the Atlético coach about the match with Benfica, which will be played in a borrowed home.

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