Carlos Cunha acknowledged that this "was an atypical week", after the departure of coach Vítor Campelos, but showed confidence that the team can give a good response against the 'lions'.

"We can't bury our heads in the sand and say that nothing happened. But the team is prepared and has to look at this game as an opportunity to show itself and be valued, and not as a moment of tension", said the coach, who guides the U-23 team of the gilistas, but was called to lead the main squad this week.

Carlos Cunha acknowledged that this "will be a difficult game and that it will require a lot of competence and concentration from the team [of Gil Vicente]", although he guaranteed that the processes were not radically altered.

"It was not a normal week, and what happened did not pass the players by. We try to give comfort and confidence. With the good foundation that Vítor [Campelos] gave us, I feel the team is prepared. What we tried to do was share our ideas about what this game will require", shared the coach.

The interim pointed out that "the media coverage of the opponent and the game even helped to deal with this moment", and although recognizing that it is easy to analyze Sporting, he stressed the demand that this opponent will place on his team.

"How to stop this Sporting is the question of the moment, and many of us are trying to do it. It is a team that is competent at all times. We will keep what we intend to do to try to deceive Rúben Amorim. It will not be easy, but it is up to us to try", said Carlos Cunha.

The coach spoke of a "dynamic and aggressive" opponent and highlighted the individualities of the Lisbon team, namely the striker Viktor Gyokeres, about whom he praised "the associative football, the strength in the duels, but also the ability to attack in depth".

Carlos Cunha expects a Sporting "motivated and confident" in the aspirations for the title fight, especially after the recent victory over Benfica, but he hopes that the home factor will be an advantage for his team.

"Playing at home and with a full stadium also gives us motivation. We have already shown against all the top-5 teams in the league that we are very strong playing in Barcelos", he added.

Carlos Cunha will lead the Minho team in this duel with Sporting, but then he will return to his function in the U-23, leaving the position to Tozé Marreco who will command Gil Vicente until the end of the season, after leaving Tondela, of the II League.

"We are in 14th place, with two more points than the team in the playoff zone [Portimonense, in 16th], but only two behind 10th place [Farense]. I believe that, until the end of the championship, Gil Vicente will leave this position and still climb the table", predicted Carlos Cunha, who left a "word of recognition for the work done by Vítor Campelos in command of the team".

For this challenge with Sporting, the 'roosters' will not have Afonso Moreira, a midfielder who, in addition to recovering from an injury, is on loan from Sporting, and also Tidjany Touré, who is serving a suspension.

Gil Vicente, 14th classified with 28 points, receives this Friday the championship leader Sporting, with 71, in a match scheduled for 8:15 pm, which will be refereed by Manuel Oliveira, from the Porto association.

Leia Também: Free kick, ball on the posts and party in Madeira. Here is the goal of the month in the II League (Portuguese version)