Former Benfica players Andre Almeida, Jonas, Nuno Gomez and Oscar Cardozo said this Wednesday that they hope for a strong reaction from the current red team to withstand expectations in the Champions League.
On the sidelines of the inauguration of the “mural of champions”, which pays tribute to the 20 players who have stood out most in the Benfica shirt during the 20th anniversary that the Estádio da Luz celebrates this Wednesday, according to members, some elected officials commented the current situation “embodied” a day after the defeat to Real Sociedad (1:0), which complicated the Champions League.
“I know the coach and the players well. I know they will respond in the best possible way and work hard to turn around these unfortunate situations that are part of the season and football. There were a lot of such moments, and I know they will give a decisive answer now, on Saturday,” said Andre Almeida, the last one to say goodbye to the Lisbon group.
The right-back, still managed by German coach Roger Schmidt but not playing a game last season, his 12th and final game for the Eagles, confirmed that “whoever is on the field, he gives everything for” Benfica” and is a “very united player”. group.”
“As a Benfica fan, I believe that fans should support the team and believe in them in both good and bad times. I don’t consider defeat a bad thing. Of course, Benfica fans want to win, and I admit that after the game you feel dissatisfaction, but it is in such moments that a true Benfica fan should push the team forward,” he emphasized.
Nuno Gomes has described the defeat to Real Sociedad as one of the bad moments the Estadio da Luz has endured in its 20 years of existence, given that Benfica “need to do more and have more than enough quality to do more” in the competition, but “the style of play has not yet adapted to the reinforcements that have arrived” in this market.
“Benfica, thanks to its history, also wants to become great again in Europe. Last year was proof of this with a great campaign. This year things are not going the way everyone would like, but football is the moment. the players and technical team must change the situation,” said the former Portuguese striker and international.
Brazilian Jonas, who watched the match against Spain live, stressed that the math “is done in the end”, although he recognizes that “it is more difficult” but the Lisbon team will have to “look forward and think in the long term”. next championship match.”
“In the end, God willing, we will have good news: Benfica will win the championship, and that is the most important thing,” said the 39-year-old Brazilian striker.
Paraguayan Oscar Cardoso was also confident that Benfica would recover in the Champions League and the championship as they have “great players and strikers” and wished success to everyone, especially Di Maria, with whom he played for three seasons.
“I always wish Di Maria all the best. He is a great friend and a wonderful person. He recently suffered an injury, but I wish him all the best,” the striker said.
Benfica currently sit last in Group D of the Champions League, still without points or goals, and in League I they are second with 21 points, one behind leaders Sporting and two ahead of Porto. in third place after eight days. .