Roger Schmidt: "I am very proud of my players"

POST-MATCH

Roger Schmidt was satisfied with Benfica's attitude in the victory over FC Porto in the Super Cup on Wednesday, August 9, at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro. The red triumph sends the 9th Super Cup in the Club's history to the Benfica Museum – Cosme Damião. 

HALF-TIME SPEECH

"I told them that they were playing well, that they were willing to defend around our area, suffer and accept that FC Porto had played a good first half. Especially in the first 20 minutes, they put a lot of pressure, it was difficult to find solutions. They played with a lot of intensity, and I told them that. The important thing was that it was still 0-0 at the end of the first half. After the break, we were much more aggressive, shifted the momentum to our side and didn't concede any more chances. We put a lot of pressure on, won a lot of balls and created chances. We were effective in these moments and managed to score two very good goals. It was very difficult, a good game of football and, for the second half, I think we deserved to win. I'm very proud of my players because it's not easy to play against FC Porto. If they can play with this intensity at the start of the season and win in the end, it's a very good sign, so we're happy with the win."

SECOND HALF SUBSTITUTIONS

"The change [Musa coming on for the second half] was made because we needed a strong player in the central attacking area to have the chance to play long balls, fight for second balls and be more physical. The other change was because Mihailo already had a yellow card. They were very good on the right flank, with Otávio, and I didn't want to take any risks, so I put Jurásek on. More important than the substitutions was the fact that we played with more courage and intensity. We had more belief in our play with possession. Of course, the substitutions helped, but I don't think they were decisive in the change from the first half. In the second half, Musa was good as a target player, but also the surrounding players. We were able to win a lot more balls in midfield. João Neves and Kökcü did it very well, and then Florentino and Chiquinho too. We were able to control the midfield. The full-backs defended well, the central midfielders were incisive. We won balls, and then we were able to show quality. The story of the game had two different halves."

BETTING ON A MOBILE ATTACK

"It was a decision for today. We had already done it a few times last season, playing Aursnes as a second striker, we also did it with Neres or Gonçalo Guedes.The idea was to find space behind their defensive line. Even with a striker or even Gonçalo Ramos, we would have to fight. We have to accept the quality of the opponent. FC Porto played very well in the first half. The ball didn't go into our attacking zone very often, so having or not having a winger wouldn't have made much difference. That's football sometimes."

ABSENCE OF DAVID NERES

"David Neres has a small problem with a knee. That's why I couldn't include him in the team today. Hopefully he will be back on Monday."

IMPORTANCE OF THE SUPER CUP

"It's a trophy, it stays forever. That's what I told the players before the game. When you look back on your career, you always talk about titles. Of course, it's only the Super Cup, we know it's not the most important trophy we can win. But if we win the Super Cup, it means we won something last season. The value of the Super Cup also always depends on the opponent. If you play against FC Porto, who won the last Portuguese Cup and the League Cup, and when both teams give everything - the players played as if it were the World Cup final - of course it is important."