Vasco Botelho da Costa praises long break ahead of Moreirense clash
Vasco Botelho da Costa and Luís Pinto held a pre‑match briefing on Friday for the eighth round of the Primeira Liga, with Moreirense hosting Gil Vicente at 18:45. Both men stressed the unusually long international break and outlined how it would shape their preparations.
Long break seen as growth opportunity
Vasco Botelho da Costa opened the conference by noting the pause was “much longer than we are used to”. He explained that training sessions cannot replace competitive matches, but the extra time allowed the squad to work on details, repetition and overall evolution. He added that the team is still far from a finished product, yet feels “better now than after the game with Vitória”.
He also highlighted that the side aims to be even stronger a month from now, building on the modest progress made since that earlier defeat.
Moreirense’s own assessment echoed the sentiment. The club had only two internationals available and suffered two absences, yet used the break to recover from a congested early‑season calendar. Coach Botelho said the pause offered a chance to rest and address physical demands, though the exact impact on fitness remains uncertain.
Gil Vicente prepares for a packed fortnight
Luís Pinto reflected on his team’s demanding schedule, pointing out that Gil Vicente will play four games in just fifteen days. He described the period as “an interesting cycle” that will keep the squad training constantly and open “some doors” for development.
Pinto warned that Moreirense will be a “very difficult” opponent, possessing quality and versatility in attack. He noted that Gil Vicente likes to dominate possession and expects to be challenged when defending, emphasising the need for tactical flexibility.
Vasco Botelho da Costa echoed the challenge, describing Gil Vicente as a side with “a lot of quality” that can “do different things offensively”. He stressed the advantage of playing at home and the desire to demonstrate the progress made in recent training.
The conference also addressed the injury to Alexandre Parsemain, who was sidelined while on international duty. Botelho said Parsemain will miss “some time” and is unlikely to feature in the next few matches. He praised the market’s generosity, noting that the club have secured replacements in Vonic and Yan.
Finally, Botelho made an appeal to supporters to attend the 18:45 Friday fixture despite the less convenient kick‑off time. He recalled the club’s recent difficult encounters, such as the penalising match against Arouca, and expressed confidence that fans will turn up in large numbers both at home and away, providing the team with the encouragement it needs.