The coach of a fourth-tier Portuguese football club is preparing his team for an improbable cup clash against Liga Betclic leader FC Porto, acknowledging the overwhelming odds while aiming to challenge a “mystique” revitalized giant.
David Maside, head coach of Sintrense, expressed his team’s ambition despite their position as 9th in Série D of the Campeonato de Portugal. His side is set to face the dominant FC Porto in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, Portugal’s national cup competition.
Maside openly recognized that favoritism lies entirely with FC Porto, a team he described as “unbeatable in the league.” He noted the club’s recent resurgence, stating FC Porto “returned to have that mystique of the 90s.”
The 39-year-old coach anticipates a formidable challenge at the Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto’s home stadium. He believes playing there “will be very, very difficult, as it hasn’t been for a long time.”
The match is scheduled for Saturday at 8:15 PM local time (UTC+0).
Despite the daunting task, Maside maintains a philosophical outlook. “In theory, the club with fewer resources can beat the one with more resources,” he said.
Sintrense’s preparation for the high-profile game has remained consistent with their usual routine. Maside affirmed they would “do our normal work” and “seek our best” to “show what we’ve worked on.”
He also expressed a desire to meet and converse with FC Porto’s Italian counterpart, Farioli, hoping to “drink something” (learn) from him. Maside highlighted Farioli’s “very big impact” on the Dragons.
The Sintrense coach recalled that even Benfica adopted a “very cautious” approach when playing at the Estádio do Dragão this year.
Maside admitted to “some anxiety” within his squad due to the increased media attention. However, he stressed that his team’s training quality is “at the level of what is already done in a 2nd League.”
He concluded by emphasizing Sintrense’s priority: to “transmit the team’s values.” This includes fostering “attitude” and showcasing their “much talent” to demonstrate their capability of performing at higher levels.