Tondela midfielder not afraid to face the lions and advance to the final four of the Allianz Cup
• Photo: Hugo Monteiro
Costinha assumed this Wednesday that the Tondela squad is not afraid of facing Sporting, counting for the third round of the group stage of the League Cup, to give a “gift” to the fans.
“There is no fear at all. We are going to enjoy the game. We know we will pass and that is our mentality: we want to go to the final four. We know it is very difficult, against a very good team, but there is no fear”, said Costinha.
The Birões, in third and last place in the group, lost the only game they played, against Farense (1-0), so they need to beat Sporting, first in the group, with three points, by at least two goals. difference to move on to the next stage of the competition. The Faro team, who have already played two matches in the group, also have three points, but are already out of the ‘final four’.
Speaking to journalists, before Saturday’s game, at 6pm, at the João Cardoso Stadium, in Tondela, counting for the third round of Group C of the League Cup, the central midfielder, born in Coimbra, admitted difficulty, but the desire to win.
“We want to free ourselves, we want to show our football and show that there is quality. Show that we are not in this situation by chance. We have eliminated teams like the current leader of the Sabseg League [Santa Clara] or V. Guimarães at his home, in other words, we are here on our own merit and we are going to do that and give everything to be in the ‘final four'”, he said.
Costinha said that the work week is being “like any other, knowing that it is a somewhat special game, because it is against the best team in the country, not only in terms of classification, but also in terms of quality of play”.
“Sporting is worth it as a whole, it is a fantastic team, very well consolidated at the moment, it comes from very strong motivational levels, because it beat FC Porto and took the lead in the Betclic League”, he pointed out.
Therefore, he admitted, Tondela’s mission will be of “maximum demand”, since “it is not enough to win” given the goal difference that the Tondela team need to guarantee against the ‘lions’.
“It’s about facing the game to win and we’re going to do everything we can to win, knowing that, on a good day for us and on a not so good day for Sporting, it’s possible. Football always starts 0-0, with eleven against eleven and we’re going to give our better”, he highlighted.
In this sense, he reinforced that “Sporting, of course, will also want to be in the final four and Tondela will also do everything possible”, especially because, passing this stage, “would be fantastic and everyone in Tondela would certainly be more happy for Christmas.”
“We will do everything we can to give our fans a gift and we will do that”, added Costinha, admitting that having a full stadium “is always special and gives another type of motivation”.
The game of the third and final round of Group C for the Football League Cup, between Tondela and Sporting, is scheduled for Saturday, at 6:00 pm, at Estádio João Cardoso, in Tondela.
By Lusa
2023-12-20 11:28:44
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