Ex-Benfica champion at Santa Clara: We can't be afraid to win | OneFootball

Santa Clara and Benfica face off this Friday, February 13th, at 6:30 PM, in the Azores, in a match of the 22nd round of the League. Petit, a former player of the reds, believes that his team's attitude will be crucial in discussing the outcome. In the preview, the coach recalled the debut against Estrela da Amadora and highlighted positive signs, despite the 1-0 defeat.

"The performance was better than the result. We brought positive things from the days of work we had, and the players are assimilating the ideas well. We have to look at our identity, know when to have the ball, when to close spaces, and not give up on concentration and attitude," he began by saying.

Regarding what to expect from Benfica, Petit - who has a less than encouraging record against the eagles - assured that the team prepared for various tactical scenarios: "We analyzed the quality and intelligence of Benfica's players and the various dynamics they present. We prepared for these scenarios, but the most important thing is our strategy and not giving up on our game plan," he explained.

The coach also addressed the impact of bad weather and reinforced the ambition to earn points: "We have to have personality. We cannot be afraid to have the ball. The pitches become more difficult, and details can make the difference. In these games, the motivation is always there. Performances give confidence, but they don't give points. We want points and we always fight for the three."

Petit, as a player for Benfica, won a National Championship, a Portuguese Cup, and a Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. In total, the former Portuguese international participated in 212 matches for the red emblem, where he scored 14 goals and made 23 assists.

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