Schmidt guarantees Benfica fully focused on the Portuguese Cup game

Benfica’s coach, Roger Schmidt, guaranteed this Monday that the ‘reds’ are fully focused on the semi-final match of the Portuguese Football Cup against Sporting, but acknowledged that the championship games are “increasingly decisive ”.

At a press conference in Seixal, the coach explained that “there are only seven games left” in the I Liga, but stressed that the “important” thing is to maintain focus “on each game” because, otherwise, “it is impossible to play this calendar ”.

“Our total focus is on the Portuguese Cup. We are very motivated to win this game and then we start focusing again on the League and the game against Sporting on Saturday. It’s our plan and the best way to approach each game”, commented the German.

Previously, asked about the differences between the first leg of the semi-finals, which Sporting won 2-1, in Alvalade, Schmidt pointed out the home factor and the fact that the second match is decisive for qualification. “It’s all quite clear. We are one goal down and we have 90 minutes to play good football and turn things around. That’s what we have to do and we are very motivated to reach the Cup final”, he assured.

In a press conference that lasted less than five minutes, with the presence of just three journalists, due to traffic constraints, Schmidt also refused to reveal the starting lineup for Tuesday.

The coach of the Reds also did not say which striker he will use initially, stressing that what Benfica needs to move forward is “a very complete performance in general”. “We need a striker to start with, but I expect a game where we also have to rely on substitutes, depending on the story of the game, we need to have good players on the bench. Let’s see who starts tomorrow [terça-feira]. For me, the most important thing is that we need a great collective display,” she concluded.

Benfica hosts Sporting on Tuesday, in the second leg of the Portuguese Football Cup semi-finals, scheduled to start at 8:45 pm, at the Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, and refereed by João Pinheiro, from the football association Braga.

In the first leg, played on February 29, at the José Alvalade Stadium, Sporting won 2-1, with goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres, while Fredrik Aursnes reduced the score for the Reds.

To reach the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup, the team coached by Roger Schmidt defeated Lusitânia dos Açores (4-1, away), Famalicão (2-0, home), Sporting de Braga (3-2, home ) and Vizela (2-1, away).

Sporting, coached by Rúben Amorim, eliminated Olivais e Moscavide (3-1, away), Dumiense (8-0, home), Tondela (4-0, away) and União de Leiria (3-0 , outside).