Rui Costa was optimistic heading to Milan, where Benfica will face Inter next Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, predicting the “season will end well” despite three consecutive defeats.
“We’ve had a brilliant nine and a half months. We’ve had better moments than the last few days, but we can’t forget that. We’ve led the championship from the first round to now. None of this can affect on what has been done for nine and a half months and I am sure, convinced and more than aware of what we have in the dressing room. The season will end well,” the Benfica chairman told journalists at the airport of Lisbon.
Despite the 0-2 defeat against Inter at Luz, the leader of the eagles promised that the team will fight “until the last second” to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League. “We are going with a negative result, the first after 13 games in the Champions League, with 10 wins and two draws, something which is unprecedented for the club. It is a result that is proving tough given what is on the pitch happened, but it is our obligation to fight to the last second and that is what we are going to do. I am fully aware that the team will do that,” he stressed.
Asked if this is the most important game of the season, Rui Costa devalued it saying that “for Benfica, all games are the most important” and that “at the moment is the most important, because it is what can keep us going in the game” . .
Benfica’s president also confirmed that SAD has already issued a disciplinary report regarding refereeing errors in the match against Desp. Keys on Saturday. “Benfica will do it, but it shouldn’t. The disciplinary board was so quick to file a lawsuit against Benfica not long ago for news that appeared in the newspapers, and Benfica shouldn’t have to act in a situation like this either to manifest. They reported something that’s a shame all week. It’s not even worth talking about the weekend, but we know what caused that pressure. We shouldn’t be the ones participating. I can say that we already did. Don’t let external noise be the conditioning factor of this championship. Sure, because I know the players and the technical team, I know the value we have, and that’s how we all work together and united – also because we’ve come here – we’re going to reach 38 with all our certainty”, he predicted.
Source: DN
