Santa Clara secured a 2-0 victory over Nacional in the 33rd round of the Liga, and coach Petit, who was suspended and not on the bench, shared his thoughts in the post-match press conference. He emphasized that the three points were well-deserved for Santa Clara based on the flow of the game.
**A Fair Victory**
“I think it’s a fair win. We made a few changes for various reasons, and we’re keeping a close eye on the academy and the wealth of talent we have to develop. We wanted to finish strong at home, especially during an important week with celebrations taking place.”
**Second-Half Strategy**
“We knew Nacional builds play with their center-backs very wide, which makes it tough to press, but by staying compact we could break out in transition and create more chances in the first half. In the second half, we dropped a bit deeper and ended up sealing the game. We knew we could finish it off on the counter.”
**João Afonso’s League Debut**
“I see a bright future for João. I watch his work, he’s growing a lot, and we believe we can invest in him. He’s already been called up to the national under-21 side, and we also gave Isaac his debut. The important thing is that they take solid steps so they can reach the first team. We’re monitoring our under-19s and under-23s—that’s the project. Dje is also showing promise.”
**Another Survival on Petit’s Résumé**
“I just keep doing my job. When I save teams, it’s because I play to win. You need to analyze, see what squad you have and what you’re going to do. Maybe my name isn’t very glamorous, but given what I’ve achieved and the number of games I’ve managed, it only fuels my desire to work. I’m happy here and I want to build a bright future.”