Santa Clara coach Vasco Matos emphasized his team’s “ambition” and the need for “consistency” on Saturday, looking past mixed recent results to a critical league encounter against Rio Ave.
Matos acknowledged the upcoming Betclic League match would be “extremely balanced.” He pledged his squad would approach the game with determination.
“We expect an extremely balanced game, but we will go with a lot of ambition to do our work and continue what we have been doing in recent games,” Matos told reporters. He described Rio Ave as a “team with capacity, with a lot of quality and with individually very capable players.”
The coach’s remarks came during a pre-match press conference in Ponta Delgada. The match, part of the 12th round of the championship, is scheduled for Sunday.
Santa Clara currently sits 12th in the league standings with 11 points. Their opponent, Rio Ave, is one spot ahead in 11th place with 12 points, highlighting the significance of the upcoming clash for both teams.
The game will kick off at 2:30 PM local time (UTC+0) in Vila de Conde. Márcio Torres will be the referee.
Santa Clara’s recent form includes a 3-0 victory in the Portuguese Cup, but also a 2-1 league defeat against Sporting in their prior fixture. Overall, their league record stands at three wins, two draws, and six defeats.
Matos stressed that the team’s “focus” remains on its “process” and recent “great evolution.” He recognized the need for greater “consistency” in their play.
“The championship is not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” Matos reinforced, adding that while results are important, believing in the ongoing process is key.
He also noted Rio Ave’s recent league performance, which includes a 1-1 draw and a 4-0 defeat.