Sporting CP and Porto will meet on Friday at the Dragão Arena in the first leg of the Intercontinental Ice Hockey Cup, and both coaches have declared their commitment to winning the first trophy of the season.
The decisive game will take place on Sunday at the João Rocha Pavilion in Lisbon, and neither Sporting coach Paulo Freitas nor Porto player Ricardo Ares offer any scenario other than triumph.
The owner of this trophy becomes the club world champion, a title that has not yet been won by any of these emblems.
At the press conference, Paulo Freitas said that he was aware of the difficulties that the “dragons” would pose for his team, and stressed that it was necessary to present “the best Sporting” in order to defeat the opponent.
“It is clear that the Sporting team is ready for this competition knowing the challenges ahead. FC Porto is a great team, very well oriented, and this will cause us a lot of difficulties, just as we will create difficulties for FC Porto, ”said the coach of the Leonian formation.
The only certainty for Paulo Freitas is that it will be two “good hockey points” and that only “the best Sporting CP will be able to defeat FC Porto”.
FC Porto head coach Ricardo Ares believes that the matches “will be decided in detail” taking into account the balance and quality of the two teams.
“This is a two-way competition, with 100 minutes of play on both tracks, so you will decide on the details. Both teams know each other very well, but at the moment FC Porto has maximum ambitions and is very eager to win, ”said the coach of the blue and white.
Ricardo Ares knows what to expect from the “lions” and emphasizes the need to give all the best “every second”.
“They will try to surprise us, and we will try to surprise them, so these will be two games in which it is very important to be able to manage and make decisions. The competition will be determined in Lisbon, but every minute can be vital to anyone. victories, for this you need to live every second of this final, as if it were the last, ”he concluded.
FC Porto captain Reinaldo Garcia stressed the importance of the first game at home.
“The audience always helps us, constantly pushes us, and it is very important for us that they are in the stands to support them. I know they will be strong in Dragão Arena and of course we have all that support. Play first – at home it is very important to have this support. It remains for us to work on the track, ”he stressed.
Sporting goalkeeper Angelo Girao emphasized the balance of the two teams, but remembered the lion’s desire to win the trophy.
“We are the teams that have discussed almost all titles in recent years. There is a lot of mutual knowledge, as well as the qualities of each player, but not the tactical aspects, the moment and the form of the players in Now we want to win this trophy and take it to Alvalada, ”said the keeper.
