Joel Rocha: "Every second of the match counts"

On Saturday at 6:00 pm Benfica visits Sporting in the first match of the Liga Sport Zone final (played in a best of five series). The coach Joel Rocha launches a derby "with no secrets".

“The greater the knowledge, the greater the difficulty of the surprise, but also when it exists, the surprise has more impact. The truth is that they are probably the two best teams of the Championship with the largest amount of strategic variability. Now even in the analysis and observation is difficult to anticipate the scenario. But we believe that the surprise, as difficult as it may be, might be an added value”, considered Joel Rocha, in statements to BTV.

The Benfica futsal team coach stresses his players' approach to the first match of the final. “We must be an extremely competitive team, with the awareness that these are matches in which every second counts, all ball possessions have an important value as posses and above all, we must be an extremely cooperative team, with a great capacity for sacrifice and to overcome the challenges”, he said.

Joel Rocha calls on the supporters to help the team win the first match.

“We hope that Saturday, in Alvalade, and Wednesday, here at Luz, may be the supporters, once more, to balance and help break the balances towards our side in what will be highly difficult, demanding and competitive matches”, predicted Joel Rocha.

Text: Márcia Dores

Pics: SL Benfica