"We've shown a good mentality, and we're in the fight"

POST-MATCH

Highlighting the different side in the second half of the match, Roger Schmidt analyzed Benfica's result against Sporting (2-1) in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. 

ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE 2ND LEG

"It was a tough game, that's what we were expecting too. In the first half Sporting was the better team, we had problems with their transition, we lost too many balls and up front we weren't in the game. In the second half, with the score at 2-0, it was a very difficult game, because we had to apply some pressure, and that also meant that they had a lot of space up front for counter-attacks. We did well, we won decisive duels, and that's how we stayed in the game. We scored the first goal, then the second, with two good attacking moments, but unfortunately the referee disallowed the goal [2-2]. We tried everything, we had to watch out for counter-attacks... In the end, we lost the game, but we hadn't lost for a long time. If you're going to lose a game, let it be tonight, because you can fix this result. It's half-time, and in the second half we play at Estádio da Luz."

DIFFICULTIES IN ATTACK

"We had problems in attack, problems attacking deep and finding solutions, especially in the first half. In the second half, we were better. Sporting had more moments in the box, but I only saw the two goals and a few shots from close range. They were better today [Thursday, February 29], to be honest. Still, we showed a good mentality and we're in the game. As I said, it's 2-1, and we still have another 90 minutes, or more if we play extra time. We'll see. We'll play the second game in a few weeks' time. We're not happy, we always want to win, but today we have to accept that the other team was better, they scored two goals. We also scored two, but the referee disallowed one."

GOAL DISALLOWED TO DI MARÍA

"It's not just the VAR's decision... The VAR calls the referee to check the situation, because they think it's a clear case of a wrong decision. That's the VAR's idea, and in the end the referee decided it wasn't a goal. If you look at the situation, when Ángel Di María shoots for goal, the goalkeeper has a completely open view of the ball. He sees everything, his movement, just as if Casper [Tengstedt] wasn't there. Explain to me why he interfered with the goalkeeper. There was nothing. Nothing. That's my opinion. I don't know what rule they used to decide, but in my opinion, as a footballer, and even if it had been Sporting who had scored this goal, it's a clear goal. It's not because it was our goal that was disallowed. It's a clear goal."

THE JOURNEY

"We've got a great team and that's why we've won so many games. I think the last game we lost was in San Sebastián [against Real Sociedad] a long time ago, at the beginning of November [on the 8th]. Because we're such a good team, we have the chance to be successful for so long. We've played some very difficult games and, in the end, we have to accept that sometimes we lose. When you play a team like Sporting, there's always a chance that you'll lose. We have to accept that. We didn't play at a top level, but it was good enough to stay in this semi-final. As I said, it's only half-time."