Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said on Saturday that the visit to Sporting de Braga is “not decisive” in the battle for the I Liga title, but admitted that direct confrontations are always on the team’s mind.
“Direct confrontations can always be decisive. You can earn points and they cannot gain points if you win the matches, so these matches are always in our minds. But it is the fourteenth round, it is not decisive, it is not up to end of the match.” the season,” said Roger Schmidt in Seixal at the press conference looking ahead to Sunday’s challenge.
Without stopping, the coach also recalled that “all teams are very close to each other” and admitted that the ‘red players’ aim to “step by step improve the situation” in the I League standings.
“We are in a very good moment in form and so we go to Braga with a good feeling. We are optimistic to play a good match and it is clear that if we play well we have a chance to win .” the German remarked.
However, Schmidt recalled that Sporting de Braga is “a very good opponent” and that he therefore expects “a difficult and balanced match”, with Benfica “having to fight for three points during the 90 minutes, plus injury time”.
“Braga are a very good team, very experienced, with a lot of individual quality. They make good decisions with the ball and are very efficient in attack, especially when they have a lot of space. It’s a great match and we need a great team .” performance to win,” the technician warned.
Regarding the situation of some of his players, he explained that Rafa “is in excellent form”, but admitted that he expects the striker “to continue as he has been so far, but more effectively”, while Arthur Cabral, who was decisive on Tuesday, against Salzburg, in a Champions League match, continues to gain confidence.
“Arthur is a different type of striker, who can play better than he has shown so far. Everyone knows that. Every goal will help him reach his best form. If that can be the best option.” [para titular]I will think about it,” he commented.
Benfica visits Sporting de Braga on Sunday, in a match of the 14th round of the I Portuguese Football League, which starts at 8:30 PM, at the Municipal Stadium of Braga, led by Luís Godinho (AF Évora).
The team led by Roger Schmidt remains in third place in the championship, one point less than Sporting and FC Porto, who face each other on Monday at the home of the ‘lions’, and one point more than Sporting the Braga.
Source: DN
