Felgueiras football coach Agostinho Bento is leveraging a recent humiliating Portuguese Cup exit to a lower-tier team as a stark lesson, vowing his squad will never again perform with such lack of commitment ahead of a difficult league clash.
Bento openly criticized his team’s display against Atlético, a side from a lower division, acknowledging the opponent’s superior aggression and desire. He stated that Atlético “wanted it more than us” and “were better than us” in every aspect of the game.
The coach called the 3-1 defeat a significant departure from the competitive standard Felgueiras fans expect. He emphasized his personal responsibility, hoping the loss serves as a “lesson for me too.”
Bento guaranteed that while future losses might occur, they would never be in the same “way” as the Cup elimination. He believes such defeats, if processed psychologically, can ultimately strengthen the team.
This comes as Felgueiras prepares to visit Vizela, currently second in Portugal’s second-tier football league. Bento maintains a positive outlook despite the challenging fixture.
He cited last season’s encounter with Vizela as inspiration, where Felgueiras secured a “totally fair” draw against a formidable opponent. Vizela was then on a strong run, needing a win to almost secure promotion.
Bento dismissed the notion that Vizela is the clear favorite for the upcoming match. He believes Felgueiras possesses “the same chances of winning” and would not accept a draw before the game.