‘We deserve the title’: Roger Schmidt predicts showdown against Santa Clara

This Friday, Roger Schmidt announced Benfica’s game against Santa Clara (Saturday, 18:00, Luz), a title-winning game.

Santa Clara knows they will be in League Two next season. What kind of opponent do you expect and how is the team doing?

“I think Santa Clara has nothing to lose. Just look and analyze the last games they’ve played, they don’t play like a relegated team. I am waiting for an opponent who will play without pressure in a full stadium. I expect a good game and we are ready, we know what our situation is. It’s been a long road to get here and tomorrow is the last round, we know if we win we’ll be champions. We have shown good spirit throughout the season, the players have committed themselves this season and I am sure that tomorrow they will be fully focused. This is the task before us, the decision is made on the field. We want to play a good, intense game, score goals and win. At the moment, that’s all we’re focused on, nothing else matters.”

Assuming Bach returns to the starting XI, where will he place Orsnes? Who will leave the team?

“He is waiting for eleven at the press conference… Bach made a big impact on Sunday and he has recovered from his injury. Orsnes is very important to us, he is a very flexible player and I can use him in several positions. at the back, in midfield, as a second striker… He has always shown many qualities and his extraordinary personality, taking and always giving his best, regardless of the position in which he plays. We have several options. On Sunday, he played a fantastic game in midfield, not only because of the goal, but also because he was involved in dangerous games. It’s great to have almost all the players. Unfortunately, Gedesh has a problem, he has already been operated on, and it had a big impact when he entered the field. On Sunday, he changed his game. We are all very sad because of his injury, but it is another reason why we can play well tomorrow.”

Was the draw in the derby a lesson in this decisive moment? Just over a month ago, Benfica were ten points ahead…

“I think we had a great game against Sporting. In the first half Sporting were better, they scored two goals, but in the second half we got back in the game, dominated, controlled, showed confidence and attacking football. managed to keep the ball in the center of the opponent’s field. It wasn’t a lesson, it was football. We have to be ready for every game, start from scratch and respect the quality of the opponent. We are Benfica and we always play to win. We have to work hard for every point. We have 10 points ahead, also because we have won almost every game. There are times when we have more advantage, but the season is a marathon, and the situation is very clear: we have scored a lot of points this season and now we have one last game to win. Each game was a challenge. Last Sunday the challenge was to recover and it was a very important draw because losing or drawing is different [com o Santa Clara]. It was a good day for us.”

I have already said that the team is focused. How are the players, given that for some this will be the last game for Benfica?

“There is always pressure in football, it’s good to be nervous before these games. This means that there is some tension. I think we’ve already shown that it doesn’t matter where we play. Even in international games, in the Champions League play-offs, there was a lot of pressure on the players, the team and the club, and we showed that we can focus on what we do on the pitch. it’s when we often play our best football.”

Last press conference this year. Is Benfica what you expected when you arrived here?

“Now is not the right time to sum up the season. We remain focused on our goal.”

Was Benfica the best team in Portugal this year?

“This is an assessment that does not depend on me. I think we deserved the title, but it’s not because we deserved to win, we have to win it. At the end of the season, the team that takes 1st place always deserves this title.”