Roger Schmidt believes that the team will defeat Marseille, and therefore is already thinking about the Europa League final. “It is important that we reach the semi-finals. This stage of “quarters” in itself is already a problem, but here everything is different. There is only one step left until the final. This means we’re in for a big game at the end of the season. Reaching the final is our dream,” said the German coach. The recent protest from Benfica fans did not seem to bother Schmidt: “They will support us as best they can, sometimes they are special. We can always count on them, they are very demanding and I like that, they also want us to reach the semi-finals and in this game we will fight for it together.” Schmidt is not afraid of the environment the team will face at the Velodrome and recalls games at other challenging venues. “Playing at home is an advantage, but we played in Toulouse, Glasgow, Milan, San Sebastian, this is nothing new for us. Of course, we know it’s a great atmosphere for the home team, but we can just focus on the game,” he stressed. As for the second match, despite Luz’s 2:1 advantage, Schmidt promises to play for a goal. “We are not a team that just defends and waits for counterattacks, that’s not our style. We need to have good phases in possession, to show our quality in this moment, even if they try to be more aggressive than they were in our stadium. We were talking about it. They will take advantage of playing at home, they will want to challenge us in possession and we will have to find solutions. We must be warriors,” he concluded, without specifying whether Kokcu will be in the starting lineup: “I won’t say. He’s in good shape.”
Neres awaits a “hostile environment”
“It will be a hostile environment. We have things in our heads that need to be done. We came to play our football and will leave here with qualifications,” said David Neres, assuring that the 7-point difference with championship leader Sporting does not “increase or decrease the importance of the Europa League.”
Neres awaits a “hostile environment”
“It will be a hostile environment. We have things in our heads that need to be done. We came to play our football and will leave here with qualifications,” said David Neres, assuring that the 7-point difference with championship leader Sporting does not “increase or decrease the importance of the Europa League.”