Paulo Sergio wants Portimonense to work and manage more than Benfica

The Portimonense coach said this Saturday that his team will have to work and run harder than Benfica to achieve a positive result in Sunday’s sixth round game of the Portuguese First Football League.

“I won’t reveal [a estratégia], I will not make the task easier for our opponent. We have to be able to run more than them, and Benfica are a team that runs a lot and works hard. We must work harder, we must be able to implement a plan on the ground, our weekly practice, so that we can balance the dispute,” Paulo Sergio said at a press conference ahead of the meeting.

The Portimonense coach admitted that in one-on-one situations his side have a “disadvantage” compared to the Reds’ “very high level players”, some of whom are “world champions”.

“To be able to realize our ideas, we must firstly work harder, be more concentrated, want more from the game, explore every meter of the field as if there is no tomorrow. By balancing this aspect, we are getting closer to being able to get something positive out of the match,” he stressed.

Paulo Sergio commented on Benfica’s 2-0 home defeat to Salzburg on Wednesday in their Champions League debut, which he considers a “miss” and does not call into question the quality of the national champions.

“He played the whole game in 10 against a great team with a bold playing pattern and quality young players. I didn’t see Benfica weak in the defeat they suffered. I see a very competent Benfica in their final year. with this coach. We know the quality of our opponent. We don’t need to waste more adjectives on this,” he said.

Having won his first league victory in the previous round in Guimarães (2-1), Paulo Sérgio emphasized that “it is always better to work on victories.”

“Obviously it helps in all aspects, which also cannot distract us from the things we need to continue to develop. The consistency of results shows that as a team we are growing and that is obviously satisfying for us, but there is a long way to go,” he said.

With a squad full of youngsters – for some of them this will be their first meeting with Benfica – the Portimonense coach stressed that this is the “normal process” of the Algarve-based SAD project.

“I expect a lot from them to keep them inspired. Because by working, I know they will work hard. The team has made confident steps in this direction. Show solidarity, show determination. And may inspiration also accompany them. Tomorrow [domingo]For many of them, this will be the first time, and I hope it will be a happy first time,” he emphasized.

Portimonense, in 15th place with five points, will host Benfica, fourth with 12 points, on Sunday at Portimão Municipal Stadium at 18:00, with Hélder Malheiro of the Lisbon Football Association officiating.