Gil Vicente coach César Peixoto confirmed that Pablo, the team`s top scorer, is still not ready to play the full 90 minutes in the upcoming match.
On Saturday, Gil Vicente coach César Peixoto held a press conference to preview the 16th round match of the Primeira Liga against Arouca.
The Gil Vicente coach believes that the team`s 17-game winless streak against Arouca serves as an added layer of motivation for the fixture, as he seeks to continue setting new milestones for the Barcelos club.
“It`s yet another motivation, although it`s intrinsic. This year we have broken record after record, so this is just one more. We believe in the process; we are hungry to win, and we demonstrate effort, hard work, and the desire to win in every game.”
Peixoto stressed the importance of ending the year with a win, dedicated to both the players and the fans. He recalled the supporters` “fantastic” behavior during the last home game, where the team fought back for a draw despite suffering from what he felt was a “very unfairly disallowed” winning goal.
The coach is hopeful that the club can make history by setting a new record for points accumulated in the first half of the season.
“If we make history, even better. I mentioned that we tied the best first-round score in the championship… I hope that many years from now, they will say I was the coach here when we broke the record. The motivation is there, but it comes from within the structure.”
Peixoto addressed the team`s occasional lack of cutting edge, despite controlling possession in recent matches.
“We conceded quickly in the first 15 minutes against Tondela and were caught by surprise, but then we dominated after the goal. We lacked incisiveness. However, if you look at the subsequent games, we dominated for 90 minutes, especially the last two encounters. Opponents had only six shots in two games, and we failed to convert our high volume of opportunities. But that is part of the process, and we have great confidence in what we are doing.”
He added that Arouca is a quality team that has overcome difficult phases, but insisted Gil Vicente must maintain the initiative and seek out chances.
Speaking on the return of Pablo, the team`s top scorer, Peixoto highlighted his importance, particularly in the attacking third.
“Pablo is very important in the decision zone, which is where we have sometimes failed. Not just for his goals, but for his work rate and the confidence he gives his colleagues. While we have two options for every position, Pablo is naturally a vital player for us… We want to win every game, but we don`t have the obligation to win every game, which is different.”
Regarding his fitness after injury, the coach was cautious about his minutes.
“He is not ready for 90 minutes yet, we have to be honest. We will manage him carefully to ensure he doesn`t suffer a relapse. He is ready to be included in the squad. Whether he starts or plays the full 90 minutes, the important thing is that he will have to work defensively. Pablo is the first defender on the field; he activates the press well and is very important in that sense too. He has been training and regaining fitness for almost a month, because this team plays at a high pace.”
Reflecting on the team`s performance, which sees them currently sitting in fourth place, Peixoto expressed satisfaction and belief in the project.
“We had high hopes based on how we finished last season. The team profile, game philosophy, and project meant that the squad construction, based on the DNA we brought in, had many positive elements for things to go well. It has been an irreproachable first half of the season, but we cannot be complacent, because things change very quickly in football. People have said we were in crisis, but we are not, and never were; it`s a process. I think this is the 3rd youngest team in the championship… Starting the league against the best teams allowed us to understand where we stood and at what level we could compete.”
Mark Thompson
