The Benfica coach stated this Saturday that the visit to Sporting de Braga “is not decisive” in the fight for the title of the First Football League, but admitted that direct confrontations are always on the team’s mind.
“Direct confrontations can always be decisive. You can win points and they can’t win points if you win the matches, that’s why these matches are always in our mind. But it’s the 14th round, it’s not decisive, it’s not at the end of it,” said Roger Schmidt, in Seixal, at the press conference prior to Sunday’s challenge.
Without stopping, the coach also recalled that “all the teams are very united” and admitted that the ‘reds’ intend, “step by step, to improve the situation” in the I Liga classification.
“We are in a very good moment and that is why we go to Braga with good feelings. We are optimistic about playing a good game and it is clear that, if we play well, we have a chance of winning it,” said the German.
However, Schmidt recalled that Sporting de Braga is “a very good rival” and that, therefore, he expects “a difficult and balanced match”, with Benfica “fighting during the 90 minutes, plus added time, for the three points”.
“Braga is a very good team, with a lot of experience and 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 is a great game and we need a great team.” performance to win,” the coach warned.
Regarding the situation of some of his players, he explained that Rafa “is in a great moment of form”, but admitted that he hopes that the forward “continues as before, but more effective”, while Arthur Cabral, decisive on Tuesday, Contra 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 it. Every goal will help him reach his best form. If he can be the best option [para titular]I’ll think about it,” he commented.
Benfica visits Sporting de Braga on Sunday, in a match of the 14th round of the 1st Portuguese Football League, scheduled for 8:30 p.m., at the Braga Municipal Stadium, refereed by Luís Godinho ( AF Évora).
The team led by Roger Schmidt remains in third place in the championship, with 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 de Braga.
Source: TSF
