We are sad, but this game made Alverca’s mentality clear.

Custódio, Alverca’s coach, speaking to journalists after the 2-1 defeat against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz:

Regarding Alverca’s performance and the behavior of the Ribatejo team.

Anyone who looks at Alverca’s season will notice that we always approach the games in the same way. It’s normal that the players increasingly have the mentality and demands that we want.

We knew that Benfica couldn’t afford to drop points. The players are human, and we know that as time goes on, they feel the anxiety.

We played a competent game. In the first half we managed to get out of our own half and keep possession. In the second half, and as a result of the emotional aspect, we ended up attacking less. We are sad not to have gotten any points. But Alverca’s mentality was clear.

Not getting any points would leave me frustrated. It’s a football match. I’m sad about what’s happening in the country. This is just football. It’s the situation in the country that saddens me, especially with these floods.

I’m not one for moral victories. I didn’t achieve what I wanted, which was to win points.

Regarding the reason for Chiquinho’s substitution at halftime

“He presented a physical problem and we didn’t want to take any risks because he was coming off a long layoff.