Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said on Monday that the way to beat Midtjylland in the third qualifying round of the Football Champions League is to focus on the team and think step by step.
Asked at a press conference in Seixal about the fact that the Danish rival had changed coach during the last week, the ‘incarnate’ coach downplayed the change and, like other aspects of the preparation, preferred to focus on the players themselves.
The most important thing is to focus on ourselves, to have a clear idea of how we want to play. Of course, some details depend on the opponent and their tactical approach, strengths, individual quality, but 80% or 90% is always how we want to play football.”
Schmidt admitted, however, that “There is a new energy in the opposing team”who visits Luz on Tuesday, but quickly turned his speech inward, while trying to ‘shake off’ the pressure that could fall on the team.
The most important thing is to prepare the players tactically and mentally for these matches, give them attitude and also a lot of confidence. Then you have to focus on the 90 minutes of the first game, the second and then hopefully a new round. We have to go step by step,” he noted.
Even when asked to address the possible departures of some players, the former PSV Eindhoven manager addressed Tuesday’s match again, noting that the most important thing is “to prepare the team and the players in the best way for each game”Regardless of what is available.
I know that if the transfer window is open, there are always discussions and movements at all clubs, not just ours. But, as a coach, I have to concentrate on the game and that is my attitude at the moment”, highlighted the coach of the “incarnate”.
Returning to his options for the game against Midtjylland, Schmidt stressed that “all the players had playing time in the preseason” and that, therefore, “everyone is in a good physical and tactical level”, even admitting that he had “many players in training, especially on the training ground in England.”
All players are ready. As a coach, I have to make decisions tomorrow. [terça-feira] and then on Friday we have the next game. That is why we need all the players”, assumed Schmidt.
Along with Roger Schmidt was Otamendi, who referred the decision to the coach as to who should play alongside him in central defense, Morato or Jan Vertonghen, but assumed that, throughout the preseason, all the players assimilated the “different idea” of “high pressure” implemented by the German.
Obviously it is the beginning of the season, there is still a long way to go, but the idea in the squad is identified and we will try tomorrow, in the first official match, to do everything in the best way to achieve victory”, assumed the Argentine international.
Benfica hosts the Danes from Midtjylland on Tuesday, in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, starting at 8:00 p.m., at Estádio da Luz, and refereed by the Spaniard Alejandro Hernandez.
The second leg of the third qualifying round is scheduled for August 9 at 18:45 in Denmark.
The team now led by Roger Schmidt seeks to qualify for the group stage of the ‘Champions’ after finishing third in the championship last season, similar to what they did in 2021/22, then led by Jorge Jesús, when they beat Spartak from Moscow and PSV. Eindhoven, at the time run by Schmidt himself.
Source: Observadora
