"Winning is good for confidence"

POST-MATCH

Roger Schmidt fez a análise à vitória do Benfica sobre o Moreirense, por 3-0, em encontro da 29.ª jornada da Liga Betclic, disputado na noite deste domingo, 14 de abril. "Temos de acreditar e ganhar os nossos jogos", sublinhou o técnico. 

GOOD INDICATORS FOR THE NEXT BATTLES

"It's always good to win. Of course, this is very positive, so it's good for confidence. Overall, we're very happy today [April 14] because we won a difficult game. It's not easy to play against Moreirense. They're having a very good season, like a team that was promoted to the Primeira Liga last year. It's not easy to score against them, and that's why I think we have to be very satisfied. We needed a bit today. We made a lot of changes, and it took us a while to dominate the game and create chances, but then we did well. We scored goals, we didn't concede [clean sheet], many players got game time, others were able to rest a bit, which was very important after three very demanding games in two weeks. It was important to give some players a rest, and now it's tops. We have all the players - or almost all of them, because Tomás Araújo is probably out - ready for Thursday [April 18]. The players who played a lot are fresh, because they didn't play today; the others had game time and worked on their form. We'll rest a bit and then prepare for the second leg [of the Europa League quarter-final] against Marseille."

GIVE EVERYTHING TO WIN UNTIL THE END

"I still believe [the league title] is possible, but it's not just in our hands. It's always difficult to deal with the situation. It would be easier if we knew that if we won our games, we'd be champions. We're not in that situation anymore, but we still have five games to play, Sporting have six. We have to believe and win our games. That's what we're doing. Today [April 14], it was important to focus on this game and win it to put some pressure on this situation. We'll give everything to win the next game, and the one after that. Let's see what happens. We still believe it's possible. If they're winning everything and become champions, they deserve it, it's very clear. If not, we have to be there."

VERY POSITIVE SIGNS FROM THE SQUAD

"Making decisions about the eleven and the squad are the hardest part of the job as a coach. However, I'm very happy to have a lot of very good options. It's important for us, because if you have high goals like Benfica do, you need good options. In the last three games we've played with the same starting eleven and, in such difficult games, the players have done very well. Today [April 14], it was time for other players to come in, and it's a very good sign for the team and the squad. If the players are ready, they can play, and that means that they are in good shape physically, tactically and that they show a good mentality. It's very good for us, and it was the goal for the last four or five weeks of the season, to have all the players available and to have lots of options. Every matchday I have to make decisions. It's never easy if you have as many good players as we do. They did very well today. I like this kind of headache because it means I have good players." 

KÖKCÜ'S RETURN AND POSITIONING

"'m very happy for Orkun [Kökcü]. The last few weeks haven't been easy for him. We talked about it after his interview and he's back, also in terms of mentality and everything. [Positioning] That's football, we have different options and, in my opinion, at the moment, João Neves and Florentino have done very well in position 6. We have Rafa as a second striker, and he's also doing very well in that position, so at the moment it's not easy to play when you're not in the starting eleven. It's clear that he has potential and is a player who needs to be in the starting eleven, but sometimes it's other players' time, and you have to wait a bit. That was the case with him. Now he's back, he's scored a goal, he gave everything on the pitch today [April 14] and I'm very happy for him. As I've always said, in difficult times, I have no doubt about his quality and his mentality. I'm very happy with him today."