Coach says he is ready to accept Rui Costa’s decision, if the president decides to do without his services.
“I’m giving my best to the club and the team. I hope the fans feel that. This is the most important thing for me. If at the end of the season I am not the best coach for Benfica, if we reach that point where the president believes that I am no longer part of Benfica, I will accept the decision”, said Roger Schmidt this Friday.
For the second time this season, the coach admits the exit scenario, after having already done so in the first round. At the time, after being challenged at the end of the game against Farense at Estádio da Luz, in early December, the coach was targeted by fans, who threw bottles at him from the stands. “If I’m the problem, if Benfica needs a coach to make substitutions as the fans want, there’s no problem, I’ll leave,” he said at the time. He now returned to the topic, in the aftermath of another wave of disputes, and again after a game with Farense.
The press conference to launch this Saturday’s game against Sp. Braga, moreover, was dominated by the topic of tense relations with the fans. They once again became the target of the coach’s criticism, in what appears to be an arm wrestling match. “If fans want to spit at our players, throw objects, those types of fans should stay at home. But the others, of course we want them to come”, said Schmidt, who at several points during the conference returned to the topic.
“I don’t watch what you write and I don’t watch television and, as you know, I don’t speak Portuguese. What I see, on a daily basis, is that there is a lot of support for Benfica and that many fans appreciate what we have done. When you ask me the question about the relationship with fans who spit on players, I don’t want to have a relationship with them and I don’t accept that. I don’t forgive this type of attitude. We are talking about nine or ten fans and I don’t need to establish a relationship with them”, said Roger Schmidt.
“First of four finals”
“We want to continue fighting for third place and do well. There are four games left and this is one of the first finals to achieve our goal.” It is with this conviction that Rui Duarte, coach of Sp. Braga, faces this Saturday’s game at Estádio da Luz. At the launch of the duel with Benfica, the coach praises his opponent. “I expect a strong Benfica, as always. A good team, with a lot of quality, players with a very high level and who, playing at home, are always strong. We analyzed what we have to do to compete in the game and to win it, without any doubt. We will try to arrive at Luz with confidence, personality and identity. Everything else passes us by”, explained the coach. Who refused to admit that a draw is a good result. “We don’t think like that in this house. Sp. Braga is a big club and always fights for three points.”
Abel Ruiz is suspended for a game and is out of the Sp. Braga team
Sp. Braga appears this Saturday afternoon at Estádio da Luz with a low weight. Spanish international striker Abel Ruiz is serving a one-game suspension, imposed by the FPF Disciplinary Council, for having received a series of five yellow cards in the championship.
The place on the squad list will be taken up by young striker Yan Said, aged 21, who is the son of Wender, a former Arsenal player. Playing for team B, Yan Said, who was born in Braga, participated in 27 games in League 3 this season, scoring 10 goals and making 4 assists. He trained all week with the main squad.
João Neves recovered and back in the eleven
João Neves has recovered from the severe bruise on his right eyebrow that forced him to leave last weekend’s game in Faro early. He is therefore in perfect condition to be an option for this Saturday’s game. And everything indicates that he will return to being a starter, after having started the last game as a substitute. Furthermore, Aursnes and Rafa, who were also left out of the starting eleven in the duel with Farense, should return to the starting lineup. On the contrary, João Mário and Kokçu can return to the bench.
“Possibilities of being champions”
“We want to continue fighting for third place and do a good game. There are four games left and this is one of the first finals to achieve the goal.” It is with this conviction that Rui Duarte, coach of Sp. Braga, faces this Saturday’s game at Estádio da Luz. At the launch of the duel with Benfica, the coach praises his opponent. “I expect a strong Benfica, as always. A good team, with a lot of quality, players with a very high level and who, playing at home, are always strong. We analyzed what we have to do to compete in the game and to win it, without any doubt. Let’s try to reach the Light with confidence, personality and identity. Everything else passes us by a little”, explained the coach. Who refused to admit that a draw is a good result. “We don’t think like that in this house. Sp. Braga is a big club and always fights for three points.”
