Schmidt sees Benfica under ‘all season’ pressure but doesn’t look at table

Manager Roger Schmidt said this Sunday that Benfica are “under pressure all season long” and that the focus is on their own work, without looking back at the classification of the Portuguese football league in which they are at the top.

At a press conference held at the Agias training center in Seixal, on the eve of Boavista’s reception, which closes the 21st round of the championship, the German coach stressed that being the champion of Portugal is not easy, but the table is not going to.

“We are under pressure all season. There are very good teams, and it’s not easy to be champions. At the moment we have more points, but there are still many games ahead. I expect a tough race until the last round. focus on yourself, and not on the games and results of your opponents, ”said Roger Schmidt, addressing reporters.

Having achieved a comfortable lead in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Belgians Brugge (2-0 away), Benfica are now ahead of Boavista and will look to restore punctual distance to Porto. , who were two points behind the leader on Saturday after beating Rio Ave.

“We have to play well for 90 minutes in our stadium against Boavista. We have to be disciplined and concentrated, attack and defend very well. Results and classification are a consequence of how we play on the field and I think we are playing well, we are confident but we respect tomorrow’s opponent [segunda-feira] and all rivals of the championship,” the coach emphasized.

The formation from Porto, which Petit coaches, has changed its tactical formation between a line of four or five defenders throughout the season, which leaves the Eagles not knowing exactly the opposite strategy, preparing for all possibilities.

“We don’t know exactly the opponent’s strategy, because they played three of them. [centrais] or with four defenders, but we are ready for both. We got used to it, because this season we played more against fives. [defesas] than with four. There are differences, but we try to focus on ourselves. Boavista has a good team. In Bess we played well [na primeira volta]we deserved to win [3-0] and now I’m looking forward to another great performance,” he analyzed.

The recent performances of Chiquinho, who has been in the starting line-up since Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea, have been noted and the Benfica manager has addressed comparisons that have been made to France’s Zinedine Zidane.

“I don’t know why the name is, but there are similar things, especially ball defense. He’s very strong at it and that was one of Zidane’s great qualities, one of the best in midfield. games are needed to reach the same level, if possible,” said Roger Schmidt, at first in jest.

More seriously, the coach praised Chiquinho’s performances: “At the beginning of the season, he already showed quality, he didn’t have many minutes and it was hard to be an option, but he remained positive and used training to develop. When we see his profile, he knows how to control the game, find the right position, not make mistakes, tactical behavior, first touch and pass, he can run a lot… He has more of a central midfield profile than an attacker. He performed well and, confidently, plays better and better. Chiquinho is a very reliable player and an example for his age, as he is no longer very young, but he can still develop and improve his level.” .

Benfica’s leader with 53 points takes on ninth-placed Boavista with 26 points on Monday at the Estádio da Luz stadium in Lisbon at 21:15 in the meeting that closes the 21st round of the 1st Football League, with the referee Hélder . Maleiro of the Lisbon Football Association.