The coach Roger Schmidt said this Sunday that Benfica is “under pressure all season” and that the focus is on his own work, without looking at the classification of the Portuguese Soccer League, in which he leads.
At a press conference held at the ‘Águias’ training center in Seixal, ahead of welcoming Boavista, which closes matchday 21 of the championship, the German coach stressed the difficulty of being a Portuguese champion, but he does not look at the table .
“We are under pressure all season. There are very good teams and it is not easy to be champions. We have more points at the moment, but there are still many games to play. I expect a tough race until the last round. focus on ourselves and not on the games and results of the opponents,” said Roger Schmidt, speaking to reporters.
After achieving a comfortable advantage in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, against the Belgians of Club Brugge (2-0 away), Benfica now has Boavista ahead and will seek to restore the punctual distance with FC Porto, which on Saturday was placed two points behind the leader, by beating Rio Ave.
“We have to play well for 90 minutes in our stadium, against Boavista. We have to be disciplined and focused, with attacking football and defending very well. The results and the standings are a consequence of how we played on the field and I think that we have been playing well. We are confident, but we respect tomorrow’s opponents [segunda-feira] and all the opponents of the championship”, highlighted the coach.
The formation from Porto, led by Petit, has varied its tactical layout during the season, between a line of four or five defenders, which leaves the ‘eagles’ without knowing exactly the opposite strategy, preparing for all the possibilities.
“We don’t know exactly the opponent’s strategy, because he has been playing with three [centrais] or with four defenders, but we are prepared for both. We are used to it, since we have played more this season against lines of five [defesas] that with four There are differences, but we try to focus on ourselves. Boavista has a good team. In Bessa we play well [na primeira volta]we deserve victory [3-0] and now I expect another great performance”, he analyzed.
The recent performances of Chiquinho, who has been in the starting eleven since Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernández left for Chelsea, have been highlighted, and the Benfica coach has addressed the comparisons that have been made with Frenchman Zinedine Zidane.
“I don’t know the reason for the name, but there are similar things, especially defending the ball. He is very strong in that and that was one of Zidane’s great qualities, one of the best ever in midfield. games are needed to get to the same level, if that’s possible,” Roger Schmidt said, first jokingly.
More seriously, the coach praised Chiquinho’s performance: “At the start of the season he had already shown quality, he didn’t have as many minutes and it was difficult to be an option, but he remained positive and took advantage of training to develop his position. We see his profile, it’s able to control the game, find the right position, not make mistakes, tactical behaviour, first touch and pass, can run a lot… He has more of a midfielder profile than an attacker.He put in good performances and is confidently playing every better and better. Chiquinho is a very reliable player and an example for his age, since he is not very young, but he can still develop and raise his level.”
The leader Benfica, with 53 points, receives Boavista, ninth ranked, with 26, on Monday, at the Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, at 9:15 p.m., in a match that closes the 21st round of the 1st Football League, With refereeing by Hélder Malheiro, from the Lisbon Football Association.
Source: TSF
