César Peixoto: “We’ll Compete Hard at Dragão, Not Aim for Style Points”
César Peixoto, the head coach of Gil Vicente, emphasized the team’s commitment to compete fiercely against FC Porto. Ahead of their match at the Estádio do Dragão, Peixoto stated, “We’re not going there to play beautifully and lose by three or four goals. We’re going to compete as a team and focus on our game plan.”
César Peixoto’s Strategy Against FC Porto
Peixoto recognizes the caliber of FC Porto, referring to them as “the best team in the league.” Despite acknowledging Porto’s strengths, he assured that Gil Vicente will maintain their competitive spirit. He remarked, “We will not make it easy for them. Our goal is to earn three points.”
Preparing for the Challenge
- Opposition: FC Porto, currently leading the league.
- Last match result: Gil Vicente won against Nacional (2-1).
- Current league standing: Gil Vicente is fourth with 31 points.
- Upcoming match date: Monday at 20:15.
Peixoto has praised the resilience of his players, noting that, despite a challenging series of games, they remain focused. “We had a stretch of seven games without a win, but that did not shake our confidence,” he explained.
Maintaining Stability and Focus
The coach highlighted that Gil Vicente has achieved only one loss in their last 11 matches. “That’s impressive for a team like Gil Vicente,” he added. “We had many opportunities in games, but the opponents took their chances.”
Regarding recent player transfer activity, Peixoto acknowledged interest due to Gil Vicente’s position in the standings. Notably, attacker Pablo moved to West Ham and goalkeeper Andrew transferred to Flamengo. Peixoto stressed that any new signings must enhance the squad’s quality, stating, “We will not sign players just to fill spots. We have a clear vision moving forward.”
Upcoming Match Details
Gil Vicente is scheduled to visit FC Porto on Monday. The match is part of the 19th round of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The officiating referee for the match will be António Nobre from the Leiria Football Association.
As the two teams prepare for this high-stakes encounter, Peixoto’s intentions are clear: Gil Vicente aims to compete fiercely at Dragão, prioritizing their style of play over mere survival tactics.
