Benfica coach Roger Schmidt confirmed this Thursday that striker Tengstedt will be absent “for the next few games” due to injury, but recalled that the absence could be an opportunity for other players to show their worth.
“Casper” [Tengstedt] got injured yesterday [quarta-feira] and it will be out tomorrow [sexta-feira] and perhaps also in the next games in January. We need to find solutions, but we have a quality squad, different options, so we will present a strong team against Famalicao,” the coach said at a press conference in Seixal.
Ahead of being welcomed into Minho’s squad for matchday 15 of the 1st Portuguese Football League, Schmidt also admitted that he has “some problems to solve” due to the high number of absences due to injury (Alexander Bach, Juan Bernat, David Neres and Tegstedt) or punishment (Otamendi), but discounted this issue, emphasizing that he is “completely focused on what is available.”
“When players are missing, it’s always an opportunity for others to emerge. Sometimes these moments are necessary and it could be an advantage in the coming weeks if some players manage to perform well enough to become more than just bench options.” “, he recalled.
Moreover, the coach expects some players to return to the team in January, including David Neres, who is “returning to individual training” in Seixal and “completing the last phase of his recovery on the field.”
Moreover, he believes that he will not lose some important players for the team in the January transfer market, such as Joao Neves and Antonio Silva, with whom he communicates “every day”.
“We are already halfway through the season and we have big goals for Benfica. We certainly won’t let any of these players leave because we need them. And the second point: no one wants to leave, so there is no problem with this.” “,” he said. — Schmidt.
Benfica will host Famalicao on Friday in the 15th round of the First Portuguese Football League, which is scheduled to start at 18:45 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, and will be refereed by Andre Narciso (Setúbal).
The two clubs met about a month ago, in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup, in a match which the Reds won 2-0 thanks to goals from Riccelli (72 minutes, own goal) and Rafa Silva (77 minutes).
“We played Famalican for the Cup a few weeks ago, so we know that they are a very organized, compact team, with high quality transitions and individual quality in attack. We needed to be patient to decide the game and tomorrow. [sexta-feira] It will be the same,” the coach recalled.
The Roger Schmidt-coached team remains second in Ligue I with 33 points, one point behind leaders Sporting, and could take a temporary lead if they win as the Lions only take to the field on Saturday vs. Portimonense.”