Arouca "competitive and with identity" against Sporting

Arouca coach Vasco Seabra promised this Saturday a “competitive and identity-showing” team in Sunday’s duel with Sporting, in Alvalade, in the second round of the Portuguese I League.

"We're facing a very strong opponent, with an excellent coach, coming off a high-quality opening day. But we want to be competitive and establish our identity," the coach stated at a press conference.

Vasco Seabra did not consider the Lions to be any weaker with the departure of top scorer Viktor Gyökeres, pointing to other dangers for his team, which will require a "solidary and ambitious" Arouca.

"Sporting now has Luís Suárez up front, a highly adaptable player who creates superiority in central areas. He's different from Gyökeres, who excelled at attacking from deep. He'll require constant attention from us," he analyzed.

Meanwhile, Seabra expressed confidence in his own group, noting that the reinforcements have increased internal competitiveness, but warning that the road ahead is still long and requires consistency. "I'm very happy with the players we have, both those who were already here and those who have just arrived. They give me a lot of headaches because everyone wants to play, and that increases the daily demands, making us stronger as a team," he added.

When specifically addressing the preparation for this challenge, the coach explained that the team's focus has not changed compared to last season, emphasizing that the priority is the collective process of his team and the opponent, although strategic adjustments will be made based on individual characteristics.

"More than just individual players, we pay close attention to the collective process. Naturally, there are nuances; Gyökeres was very strong in attacking space, and Suárez also has those moments. We adjust our pressing and transitions, but 90% of our preparation focuses on the collective game," he explained.

From a broader perspective, the coach stated that neither Arouca nor Sporting are yet at their best, pointing to "continuous evolution." "As Abel [Ferreira] says, we have to play with a cool head and a warm heart. There will be times when we'll struggle, but at other times, we also want to take control of the game, have possession of the ball, and show joy in competing against the best. That's how we grow as a team," he declared.

The coach assumed the absences of Pablo and Marozau for this game, players still recovering from physical problems.

Arouca, in fourth place with three points, plays on Sunday at Sporting, in sixth place, also with three, in a match scheduled for 8:30 pm, with Hélder Malheiro of the Lisbon Football Association as the referee.