According to Roger Schmidt, “Benfica needs a top performance” to beat Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals (Tuesday, at Estádio da Luz, at 8 p.m., Eleven).
For the coach of the reds, “defeats are simply part of football” and the defeat with FC Porto (2-1, last Friday, for the championship) is therefore a thing of the past. “On Friday we lost an important game, which we had won a long time ago. We grew with the wins and with the defeats. We can use the defeats to grow and create something positive. We moved quickly and in the last days we were focused on Inter “said the Benfica coach.
And “of course” that he analyzed the encounters of the Italians against FC Porto in the round of 16 of the competition. “They won the first leg at home (1-0) and then came to defend the result in the second leg [contra o FC Porto]. It’s a bit Italian style and I know they know how to change that style. We are prepared for anything and want to play at our best.”
Otamendi and Bah are not playing. What about Gilberto, Morato and Grimaldo? “I’m not going to announce the eleven. If you tell me Inter’s starting eleven, maybe I can say mine… Otamendi won’t play tomorrow, that’s for sure, but Lucas Veríssimo and Morato are two very good central defenders. “I played so much this season. I really like their attitude and quality. When you have two central defenders who play as well as António and Otamendi, it is difficult for others to get into the starting line-up. . ” Grimaldo is fit’ said the German in anticipation of the meeting with the Milanese.
The opponent is experiencing a less good moment, with a huge fluctuation of results and performances, but that does not fit the Benfica coach’s equation: “You have to see things independently. To be in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is special for both teams… Past results will have no impact. They play physical football and have a lot of options, they can use different players.” For this reason, and taking into account the characteristics of the Italian team, it is to be expected that the match will be decided in detail: “They have a lot of options in all sectors. We have to be at our best.”
Looking at what Benfica can do and not what Inter can get them to do is the strategy for the match. “What I hope is that my players will be more motivated because it’s a great game, but I expect the same from the Inter players. They will be ready, they will cause difficulties, and we have to find solutions and history of the game. We have to try to do that. a good game tomorrow and in the second leg in Milan,” warned Schmidt.
Asked what João Mário can add to this game with the former team, the coach said he hopes it will be as important as the whole season: “He is a key player for us, a leader, he is the second captain. I think he’s been fantastic so far, not only because he’s scored a lot of goals and provided assists, but also because he’s a complete and reliable player on a tactical level, both on and off the ball. That’s what we need from him tomorrow. Otamendi will not be there and we need leadership on the field. I’m sure he will be at his best.”
Source: DN
