Open Talk with Roger Schmidt

OPEN TALK

Benfica Campus was the stage of Open Talk with Roger Schmidt this Sunday, May 28. In the day after the winning the Benfica's 38th National Title, the German coach approach several topics from the past, present and future in an informal talk with the journalists. 

SEASON ON A VERY POSITIVE NOTE

"I am very proud. At the beginning of the season, we talked about goals, and in Benfica, regardless of whether you are a player or a coach, you want to win titles. It was tough until the last minute of the last game and now, we are happy. It was a title won with a lot of physical effort and also mental effort. We ended up showing that we can play under pressure because we believe in ourselves a lot. The team that has the most points and, on top of that, has the best attack and the best defense deserves to be the champion. We had almost the same level as Benfica's best season ever. In Europe, we played 14 matches in the Champions League, and we only lost one. We beat top teams, and it was not a disappointment to be eliminated in the quarterfinals. It was a great achievement for the players, many of them debuting at this level. What Benfica did internationally was extraordinary."

THERE IS NO BETTER PARTY

"I have never seen anything like yesterday [Saturday, May 27]. It's one of the best celebrations you can find in European football. I had already seen pictures and photos in our dressing room, and the arrival at the Marquês de Pombal was really great. There were so many people there! As a team, we have an obligation to bring joy to everyone. It was an extraordinary day, and I know that for the players as well. I am well aware of their effort, their families, their friends, everyone."

DEDICATION TO RUI COSTA

"Our President is one of the reasons why I am here. When we started talking about a move to Benfica, I got a good feeling from the beginning. He has an extraordinary personality and his passion for the Club was obvious from the beginning. When I arrived here, I immediately realized that I was not just a President. He goes to Seixal, he attends games from all sports, is in contact with the players, and is always available for everyone. We rely a lot on his experience. The President deserves this victory. We won the title for all Benfiquistas and for him." 

WORK AND HUMILITY FOR 2023/2024

"To be honest, I'm not going to think about football in the next few days. For now, I want to relax because it was a very demanding season for everyone. Then we will analyze this season in detail and start preparing for the new season, where we need to have a perfect squad. We won the title and are doing very well, but we start the next edition of the League with zero points. We will not win easily because we are champions. I am humble, and I know that winning is hard work. We want to improve our starting eleven and find a balance in the squad. At the start of the season, we will play three times a week, and we must be prepared for that. I am please because we have players that show they can play at this level."