Rui Vitória: “SC Braga has quality, but we go there with conviction ”

The Benfica coach launched, in a press conference, the match against SC Braga for Matchweek 18 of Liga NOS, scheduled for 8:30 pm on Saturday. The clash is complicated, but the Eagles go with conviction and confident in the triumph.

“Traditionally, it is a difficult match. To play away at Braga is not easy. We are talking about a quality team, with good players and well coached. They know what to do on the pitch, it is an efficient team and they will create us difficulties. Benfica has quality, the team is displaying that quality in the game, and goes there with ambition. We must play in a strong manner, with conviction and determination. It is going to be a good match, interesting to follow, well-played. We have the capacity to win, but on the other side will be a team that has all the legitimacy, even by what they have been doing and the players they have, to aspire the victory”, he said.

The match marks the start of the second half of the league. The coach did not forecast the future, because he remembered that there are several constraints until May.

“We don't know what is going to happen in the second half of the season. There is the January transfer window, the other competitions, setbacks and the way you react to those setbacks… there are several variables that make the Championship more specific. There is also the fight for Europe and for every point”, he remembered.

Rui Vitória also revealed that "the ambition to win the championship is enormous," and believes that "the rivals can also win the championship."

Abel Ferreira considered Rui Vitoria "a reference" in the preview to Benfica and the coach of the Reds responded in a complimentary manner.

“I think Abel Ferreira is a quality coach, ambitious, who is building a beautiful team and who has quality in everything he does. I expect an ambitious response from SC Braga, that wants to get close to the three big clubs. They have a unique way of playing, with two lines of four and two players up-front, but at certain moments of the game it has interesting nuances in which it has in its build-up stage, with three men and two players in the middle with interesting attacking movements. They have positive aspects on the offensive dead-ball plays. We go there with conviction and determination”, he said.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: João Paulo Trindade / SL Benfica