“The hiring of Gonzalo Guedes was a great opportunity for Benfica,” says Roger Schmidt.

Manager Roger Schmidt said this Friday that signing Gonzalo Guedes in the January football market was a great opportunity for Benfica and added that he was considering using him in all positions in attack.

At a press conference in Seixal, the manager suggested that he enjoys the extra ‘headache’ the former Wolves player gives him when choosing a team, and recalled that ‘there is usually no such opportunity in the winter’.

“Because he is a top player and because he was a young Benfica player who had already played for three big clubs. Bringing him back in the winter on rent for six months was a great opportunity. If the player wants it, and you If you have the opportunity to make this improvement in the winter, of course you should do it, ”Roger Schmidt suggested.

Asked if he already had the latest reinforcements for a visit to Santa Clara on Saturday, the red coach acknowledged that Guedes was “in great shape and physically ready” but referred to the decision after Friday’s practice.

As for his plans for the striker, he also did not “reveal” the game in full, but added that in the Benfica system “with a central striker and a second striker in the central zone, like number 10”, the Portuguese can play in any position.

“I think he is flexible and can play in all attacking positions,” he concluded.

Unlike Goncalo Guedes, the manager confirmed that he has given the “green light” to Enrique Araujo to join Watford from English League II as “Goncalo Ramos is playing very well, scoring a lot of goals and coming out of perfect form.” but emphasized that he has a young striker for next season.

“Our decision was to give this opportunity to Enrique. [Araújo] and we are looking forward to it in the summer. We hope that he will return from England and be able to show his potential,” the German said.

Continuing to make adjustments to the squad, he revealed that Helton Leyte “wanted to go” to Turkey “to be able to play as a first goalkeeper” and showed full confidence that young people in the club could consider themselves an alternative to Vlachodimos in ” red target.

“Honestly, we believe in our goalkeepers at Benfica. With Samuel [Soares]Andre [Gomes] this is Leo [Kokubo] we have three very good young goalkeepers. We are satisfied with the situation with the goalkeepers and therefore we are not looking for another. We go with this trio until the end of the season,” he assured.

Benfica will visit Santa Clara on Saturday for the match of the 17th round of the 1st Football League, which is scheduled to start at 18:00 in Lisbon (17:00 in the Azores), at the San Miguel Stadium. Fabio Verissimo (AF Leiria).

The team led by Roger Schmidt hopes to return to victory in the 1st league after a 2-2 draw with Sporting in Lousz to maintain or increase a four-point lead over second-placed Sporting Braga and a five-point lead over Sporting Braga “. third, Porto.

For the Azoreans, Jorge Simão will make his debut at the head of the team, so Roger Schmidt reminded that a change in coach “almost always has a positive effect” and that the players must “be ready to play”.