Braga are aiming to conclude their season with a victory against Estrela Amadora, according to their coach Carlos Vicens. The match is the 34th and final game of the I Liga season.
Braga’s Objectives for Final Match
Vicens stated Braga want to give their fans “a very good game” as a thank you for their support. He added that the team wants to “go on holiday with a sweet taste”. Braga secured fourth place in the league after a 2-2 draw with Benfica. Estrela Amadora are in 15th position and are fighting to remain in the I Liga, having only gained one point from their last six matches.
“It’s the last game of the season, at home, and we want to put on a very good game to say goodbye to the fans and thank them for all the support,” Vicens said. “We want to be ourselves and go on holiday with a sweet taste. Despite the setbacks in this final phase, the team has made an effort and being ourselves, playing with personality.”
Season Review and Ricardo Horta’s Return
Vicens reflected on Braga’s season, highlighting their journey that began on 24 July against Levski Sofia in the Europa League qualifiers. He mentioned the challenges posed by a demanding schedule, which resulted in a record of 61 official games for a Portuguese team in a single season.
Addressing their performance in European competitions versus domestic cups, Vicens said, “Excellent in Europe, but short in the championship and Cup? The group of players is the same, in Europe or in national competitions, the process is the same.” He added, “We played many games and without stopping and the team grew in moments of difficulty, which made them believe more in the process. We went to the final of the League Cup and played a great game, then we lost a game that we shouldn’t have lost in the Portuguese Cup [with Fafe], but it’s part of football.”
Vicens also confirmed that Ricardo Horta has recovered from his injury and is likely to be included in the squad for the Estrela Amadora match. “He wanted to be with the team in Freiburg, knowing that he was taking giant steps to accelerate his recovery, but we were cautious and did not risk it, not even in Luz, so as not to harm the evolution,” Vicens explained. “Now he is doing well.”
Looking Ahead
Vicens expressed his pride in the team’s efforts and his optimism for the future. “I am quite proud, of course I would have liked to have played the Europa League final, but I saw a special energy from the players when the idea was settled in this final phase and that makes me have a lot of ambition, a lot of motivation and a lot of hope to face the future with these players,” he said.