Tipped for Benfica, César Peixoto makes his ambition clear at Gil Vicente | OneFootball

César Peixoto is thinking of nothing other than the European ambitions that Gil Vicente can still aspire to. In the build-up to the Gilistas’ next clash, the Portuguese coach, a former Benfica player - linked with the Eagles -, admitted that the objective of reaching the European competitions remains intact, despite the latest defeat.

Home match against Casa Pia: “A very difficult challenge, and that has been clear in the last few games. It is a tougher league than it seems, even more so in the final stretch. Casa Pia are fighting for their lives and want to take points, but we have to look at ourselves with confidence and continue the fantastic work, hoping that one less positive result does not affect us. After a less successful game, we hope to respond. It will be difficult, but we have the ability to win".

Criticism of the team in the last game…: “I do not see it as criticism, but as an observation. I am simply telling the truth. The team knows and understands that I do not lie to them. We did not have a good first half, I am not hiding that, and we must acknowledge the problem in order to solve it. I face the problem and try to solve it. These are the games in which we grow; always fighting to win is different from fighting not to go down. We want to stay in the fight until the end and sometimes there are less good games. It was the worst first half we have had, but what I said is a perfectly normal situation, especially because I am the one responsible. I am proud of what they have done, but I am demanding and I want more. They were not the best before, just as they are not the worst now. No one doubts the players because of one mistake".

Did the group feel more pressure after Europe was set as the objective in March? “People have talked a bit about that, but it does not make sense. The pressure we built up came from the big wins, the records we broke, and that enthusiasm gave us the right to dream, that is the only reason I spoke about it. Gil Vicente have been fighting relegation in recent years, they are not used to being in these positions, this is a season that has been out of the ordinary in a positive way. Now that we are here, are we going to refuse to go [to Europe]? The objective is to want more; we earned that right, that expectation, that positive pressure. Everyone at the club has to understand that. It is natural for this to happen [pressure] in a young team, but it is part of the club’s growth. What I felt was that the players needed confidence, and when I spoke about it [the objective of qualifying Gil Vicente for the Conference League] it was to give them confidence. It seemed like there was an elephant in the room and I decided, when we dropped behind Famalicão [in the standings], to talk about the objective”.

It should be remembered that Gil Vicente face Casa Pia this Monday, 27 April, in the match that will close the 31st round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. In the event of a victory, the Gilistas, currently in sixth place, will draw level with fifth-placed Famalicão, who have 51 points.

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