Rui Costa takes responsibility for Benfica’s season but defends Schmidt: “In Faro the limits were exceeded” – I Liga

Rui Costa came to the defense of Roger Schmidt. Speaking to BTV, the president of Benfica said that all limits were exceeded in Faro, in reference to the objects thrown at the Benfica coach.

The red leader said that in the end he will assume his responsibilities but asked for support from the fans in the four remaining rounds until the end of the I League.

Events in Faro: “I completely understand and understand the sadness and frustration of the fans at this stage of the championship, in a year in which we were aiming for much more than what we have achieved so far. That’s why I perfectly understand this sadness because it is the same sadness that I have, the players have, the coaches have it, because we all wanted so much more. None of us are immune to criticism when things don’t go as we expected. And I’m talking about all the employees who work at the club, we have to respect and accept criticism.”

Responsibilities: “For the second time this year, now in Faro, we have exceeded this limit. I make this appeal: there are four rounds left to finish the championship, I will be here at the end of it to take on all the responsibilities of the season, as I do every year, but in these four days, I refuse to throw the towel on the ground, with the championship still to be played.”

Title accounts: “At Benfica, it is mandatory that the four rounds be played with maximum dignity. That’s what I ask of the professionals and the team, as was the case in Faro. We all have to be prepared for these four rounds, looking for the best we can do, not throwing in the towel as long as it is mathematically possible, not being hypocrites and assuming that it is increasingly difficult to reach the title. It is our responsibility to finish the championship with maximum dignity.”

I appeal for calm: ” The appeal I make, not appealing that there is no criticism, to the president, the coach, the players, but that this criticism has certain limits. This is what I ask and that, on Saturday, we can all, on and off the field, give a good image of what Benfica is.”

Benfica, the national champion, occupies second place in the I League, with 73 points, seven less than the leader Sporting, with four rounds left to play, with the ‘reds’ having left the Farense venue under protests from their fans, after the 3-1 victory in the Algarve.

Benfica hosts Sporting de Braga, fourth placed, on Saturday, in the 31st round of the I League, with, until the end of the championship, trips to Famalicão and Rio Ave and the reception to Arouca.

With 12 points in dispute, and needing to add two victories to secure their 20th national champion title, Sporting visits FC Porto, on Sunday, before receiving Portimonense, before visiting Estoril Praia and finishing the championship at home with Desportivo de Chaves.