Roger Schmidt announces Ba’s return and defends the defenders’ performance

Benfica coach Roger Schmidt announced this Sunday that Alexander Bach will return to the squad against Estrela da Amador after a long absence due to injury, but said that the previous defenders played “very well”.

Asked at a press conference in Seixal about the Danish defender’s return, the German said he had fully recovered from the physical problem that kept him out and would be available to face Estrela da Amadora on Monday.

“Alex [Bah] He started training a few days ago and we are very happy about it. “He will be back in the squad for the first time,” said the German coach, who, however, defended the players who played in the full-back position. Roger Schmidt cited the example of midfielder Fredrik Orsnes, who took up the right position. return the position in recent weeks to support your position.

“In terms of full-backs, do you know how many assists Orsnes made as a full-back? If he wasn’t also attacking in attack, he wouldn’t have made a single assist, so I think our full-backs are doing very well,” said club coach da Luz.

Asked about striker Petr Musa’s surprise starting role in the League Cup semi-final against Estoril Praia on Wednesday, Roger Schmidt confirmed his reliance on the Croatian, praising his performance.

“The players performed well, as did Petar. I always make decisions based on different things, but when choosing a starting XI, one of the aspects is the form of the players, how they have played in recent games and in training and their skills for the team. I think he [Musa] he played a good game,” he analyzed.

The Benfica coach also backed striker Marcos Leonardo after the Brazilian missed one of the penalties that led to Benfica’s exit from the League Cup final (4-5 after 1-1 after 90 minutes).

“He’s a young player. He was a little down and disappointed with himself for missing out on big scoring opportunities, but of course I think that’s part of his development. He worked well again in training and we are glad he was able to score.” Let’s play for 20 or 30 minutes. Let’s hope he can start soon, but for me this decision depends on the moment, there are different reasons,” he said.

Regarding the latest reinforcement at left-back, the German coach was pleased with the details left by Álvaro Carreras, who made his debut against Estoril Praia and showed “quality in attack and was involved in good chances.”

As for the match against the amateurs, the German admits that the Reds are “hungry” to play this match and will have a different experience ahead of them.

“This is the first time we played in our city against another team,” recalls Schmidt, referring to the fact that Benfica had not yet faced any of the other Lisbon teams as guests in this edition of the I League and now can do it. So, in the 19th round against Estrela da Amador in Reboleira.

Roger Schmidt praised the Tricolors as a “physically strong and well-organized team” but left the guarantee that the only desire is “to win”, in response to a draw followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat against Estoril Praia in the League Cup, despite something that once again praised the Reds’ performance.

“It was a top game, a very good one, in which we dominated and created many chances created and converted by different players,” said the Reds coach, who did not dramatize the result, believing that these were situations. this can happen in football.

Roger Schmidt insisted: “I know how football is, sometimes it happens that we don’t take advantage of our opportunities and the opponents are 100% effective in their chances.”

The Reds face Estrela da Amadora on Monday in a Football League matchday 19 match that kicks off at 6:45 pm at the Jose Gomes Stadium in Reboleiro, refereed by Hélder Malheiro of the Football Association. Lisbon Football.