Statements by Tozé Marreco, coach of Farense, after the 1-3 defeat to Benfica, in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, this Tuesday, January 14, at the São Luís Stadium, in Faro.
[Na primeira parte, deu a sensação de o Farense ter conseguido parar muitas das valências do Benfica. Como é que explica, depois, o que aconteceu?]
The individual part made the difference. Against such strong teams, they paid for the slightest mistake: and that’s what happened. We had a lot of control over Benfica’s three-way formation, Di María’s play between the lines, we had things well planned and we canceled them out very well.
In the second half, the first goal comes against opponents of this type. But the biggest mistake was the second moment: we wanted to press without being able to do so, we hesitated and the change in the center of the game made it 1-2. Then we rock.
Only after 1-3 did we react and we had another situation there, but that’s what the game comes down to. The main factor, I have no doubt, were the individual moments.
[Há ali um momento, quando está 1-0, em que deu a entender que poderia ter surgido o segundo golo. Isso teria mudado o rumo do jogo?]
Yes. We had Neto’s injury… The team was doing very well, even until we conceded the first goal. I can’t say we were being pushed back. The team was balanced, organized. We had these situations that we knew we would have, with a quick attack from the opponent, and that we have to define better in the future. And we will definitely.
[Perde também dois jogadores por lesão no meio-campo: o Neto e o Seruca…]
Yes. It is what it is. We have to find solutions and see what the injuries are for sure because that’s the part that worries me. The options for midfield are not many anymore. The Cup was an extra we had. The most important thing is to keep Farense in the I League.
I wouldn’t trade any Portuguese Cup for keeping Farense in the I League. That’s our focus.
[O porquê da titularidade do Tomás Ribeiro que acabou de chegar?]
Artur Jorge, since the game against Vitória, has not trained and Lucas is injured. As I still can’t put Velho as central, I had to put Tomás.
He arrived well, with top fat mass, in shape, and gave a good response. We didn’t have many other alternatives.
