Arouca’s coach, Vítor Severino, today anticipated a “hard encounter” with the National, on the 10th day of the I Football League, highlighting the uncertainty caused by the recent change of coach in the Madeiran team.
© Lusa
31/10/2026
by
Lusa
Severine Vítor
“ Vthat's a tough game, I'm sure. Knowing that the National changed trainer, someone very experienced and who knows the I League well, we do not know exactly what they will do strategically ", said the technician, in the preview to meet Sunday.
Victor Severino considered that the preparation for the challenge requires particular attention to the possible changes in the behavior of the opponent, trying to prevent the team from being surprised.
“The first lack of humility that can exist is that we think we know how the opponent will play. We have an identity and, on top of it, we put constraints, trying to bring to the training different behaviors of opponents, because my great goal is that the team never feel caught by surprise ", he stressed.
The ‘wolves’ coach therefore argued that the team should prioritize their own identity, seeking to adapt to the problems posed by the opponent.
“Playing well in an identity increases the probability of winning,” he reinforced, promising a task-focused team and determined to achieve victory.
About the renewal of Tiago Esgaio, announced today, Severino expressed satisfaction for the continuity of the side for two more periods, with a third option, considering it an example of the culture of professionalism and functionality built in the club.
“He is a great professional, a great player and a huge captain”, he praised.
Asked about the expulsion of Rukavina in front of Alverca, Severino preferred not to feed polemics around arbitration, in a Portuguese football that he considers “tripolarized”, ensuring only that Arouca has people to watch over the interests of the club.
“I promise we will try to make a good game and try to win”, concluded the technician.
Puche, still recovering from injury, joins Rukavina, punished, in the list of absentees.
The Arouca, fifth ranked, with the same 17 points of the Académico de Viseu, faces the National, 15th, with seven, at 15:30 Sunday, in the Municipal Stadium of Arouca, in a game that will have arbitration of Luís Godinho, the association of Évora.