Marítimo coach Mitchell van der Gaag anticipates difficult match against Arouca

Marítimo coach Mitchell van der Gaag has expressed caution ahead of his team’s upcoming match against Arouca in the I Liga. The Dutch manager highlighted the difficulty of the fixture, noting that Arouca has become a high-quality opponent following their January reinforcements, which improved their defensive organization and ball possession capabilities.

Van der Gaag emphasized the importance of team spirit and the ongoing learning process for his squad, some of whom are adjusting to the demands of the league and new environments. While acknowledging that the team has shown flashes of good football, he stressed the need to maintain high-quality performances for longer durations during matches. Regarding squad selection, the coach indicated he is unlikely to make changes to the starting eleven solely for the sake of rotation, noting that new signings must earn their place through consistent work during training.