Benfica kicked off its Elite Cup defense with a powerful statement. While some might talk about old sports traditions, coach Edu Castro is simply focused on winning. He doesn’t believe in superstitions. History shows that the Elite Cup winner has not yet captured the championship title. But for Castro, such talk is just noise. His team has a score to settle with their fans, especially after last season’s disappointments.
“The only superstition I have is not being superstitious,” Castro stated clearly. “We are here to win, plain and simple. We feel a debt to the Benfica supporters for what happened last season. Winning titles is very hard. This is the first trophy of the season, and we will try to win it. We won’t spend time thinking about what might happen later.” This direct approach sets the tone for Benfica’s current campaign.
Victory Against Sp. Tomar
Benfica secured a tight 3-2 victory against Sp. Tomar. Coach Castro pointed to a key factor for their success: a strong defense. He backed this up with game statistics. Benfica managed 21 shots on goal, while their opponent had only 12. This shows a clear focus on keeping the opposition at bay while creating opportunities.
Goalkeeper Advantage
The Spanish coach also spoke about the team’s depth in goal. He called it “extremely important” to have two top-level goalkeepers. Pedro Henriques and Conti Acevedo provide Benfica with a crucial advantage. “It is very clear that we count on both of them for the entire season,” Castro explained. He added that they would be used alternately or based on the upcoming opponent. This flexible approach ensures Benfica always has a strong presence guarding the net.