Roger Schmidt: "We must show the same concentration"

PREVIEW

Roger Schmidt previewed the match between Estoril and Benfica, from the 4th round of the Portuguese Cup in a press conference. The teams meet three days later, again at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, on Wednesday (November 9), at 8:45 pm. 

Do you think this cup match will be strategically different from the Liga Bwin match?

It is a completely different match, nothing like the last one [Estoril-Benfica, on matchday 12 of the Liga Bwin]. Only the teams are the same. It's another competition, we already know each other better and we can use Sunday's match to prepare the team in more detail. Tomorrow [Wednesday] we have to be prepared again. We know Estoril is a good team, they had opportunities against us, but, even so, we deserved to win. We must show the same concentration, we have every chance of winning the game.

In the last press conference, you talked about the players' happiness. Do you consider this a key point for the players to keep playing the way they have been playing?

It is important to be happy, not only in football but also in personal life. The atmosphere, team culture, and happiness are important. Happiness alone is not enough. What the players are doing, all the effort and concentration shown in the matches is something very good. These are positive moments. We also know that we can count on those who come into the matches. Everyone tries to be at a high level in favor of Benfica. When you win games, the players are happier.  

SAMUEL SOARES' KICK FOR GOAL!

Surely you saw Samuel Soares' goal for the B team. Does a goalkeeper who "scores a goal" like that deserves a chance in the first team? What do you think about it?

Samuel [Soares] is capable of things like this. We've seen some assists, this time it was by himself. He is a great goalkeeper and a great talent. It's part of Benfica's good work with goalkeepers. André [Gomes] and Leo [Kokubo] they are also good goalkeepers, very talented, and I hope that one day they can play for the first team.