Sintrense president: “We’re not going to the Dragão just to lose” | OneFootball

Twenty-one years later, Sintrense returns to the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup. After surprising Rio Ave in the third round and previously eliminating Vizela from the II League, the team from the Campeonato de Portugal is now preparing to head to Estádio do Dragão, where they will face FC Porto in the next round.

The challenge is of great magnitude, and in the words of the majority shareholder of the SAD, Ricardo Oliveira, a small miracle will be needed.

“We are not going to Dragão to lose the game, but to show our strengths, aware that FC Porto has more than we do,” the official told Agência Lusa.

Sintrense thus meets the dragons for the third time in the last four years, following defeats by 3-0 (2024/25) and 5-0 (2021/22), always in the third round of the Cup.

“We were eliminated in the past and, as expected, we will be eliminated again. Especially playing at Dragão, but miracles happen. […] Going to Dragão is a joy and a good cushion for a team like Sintrense. But the focus must remain on the championship, because our goal is to move up a division,” acknowledged Ricardo Oliveira.

A confessed fan of Sporting – he even ran for the presidency of the club in 2022 – Ricardo Oliveira made a point of praising the Porto rival and its president.

“I have a lot of respect for FC Porto and a genuine fondness for André Villas-Boas, with whom I maintain an excellent relationship,” he stated.

The official also highlighted Sintrense's trajectory in this edition of the Cup, recalling that before defeating Rio Ave 3-2, they had already eliminated Vizela from the II League.

“Football has these things. On paper, Rio Ave was much stronger, but on that day Sintrense was better. The secret has been leadership, work, competence, and a very united group. […] We have been forming a great group and this season we are even stronger. The technical team is new, competent, the players have different characteristics, and the group spirit is also very strong,” he concluded.

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