We will try to win against Benfica without James Rodriguez says http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 coach Vitor Pereira
FC Porto coach, Vitor Pereira, claims that his side will try to win their derby with Benfica without their influential winger James Rodriguez, who was sent-off in this weekend’s clash with Feirense.
Vitor Pereira’s men travelled to Estádio Marcolino de http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Castro-c8590 for their away tie with Feirense for a routine game yesterday, with the aim of capturing three points.
However, the visitors were stunned by the discipline and counter-attacking of the home side and had to settle for a nervy 0-0 draw, which meant that they lost their top spot to arch-rivals Benfica.
While the result halted FC Porto’s momentum, they also suffered a major blow as their main winger James Rodriguez was given a red card for his reaction to being pulled down by opposing attacker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rabiola-c30250.
The on-loan Porto man held back the Colombian in the closing minutes of the encounter and Rodriguez reacted by punching him in the stomach, which earned him a red card.
His dismissal means that he will not be eligible to play against Benfica this coming weekend but coach Vitor Pereira claims that his squad is deep enough to cope with the loss of the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Banfield-c38595 man.
Speaking to reporters, Pereira said that while James was a great player with superb skills, his team also possessed other quality members, who would be able to minimize his loss in the mouth-watering derby this weekend.
“James is a player who is an optimum level and always offering decision-making ability with the ball . But we have alternatives, not so much with the characteristics of it, but surely we will perform well with Benfica and the ability to win.”
The trainer also said they needed to bury the game with Feirense from the start, but as they failed to do so, they had to face the consequences and learn from their mistakes.
“This game needed to be achieved from the first minute. That's not what happened. It is a lesson for us; we must draw conclusions and realize that these games are key to add up points,” Vitor Pereira was quoted as saying.
FC Porto take on Benfica at Estadio do Dragao on the 25th of September.
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