Rui Vitória: “Reward the work of those who have not had opportunities”

Rui Vitória launched the match against Basel for matchday 6 of the Champions League scheduled for Tuesday at 7:45 pm at Estádio da Luz. At the press conference, he admitted some changes in the starting XI comparing with the squad that started the "clássico". 

“It is a Champions League match, there are no easy games, but it is different from what we wanted. We wanted to be fighting for the qualifications. We will use this opportunity to reach other goals: win the match, allow some players who have not played this weekend to play and display their quality. We have a vast squad, not only 11 players with quality. It will be a way to reward the work of some players who have not been having opportunities. In this match, they will have it”, he assumed. 

The coach of Basel, Raphaël Wicky, gave some favoritism to Benfica for the match, but the eagles' coach denied that.

“I'm very pragmatic. Favoritism does not convince me. It must be proven on the pitch. Basel is fighting for the qualification and we are not. But I know we are worth more than we have shown so far. I'm expecting a team that knows what they have to do in the moments of the match. They have no problem defending with 10 men behind the ball. They understand their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not expecting them to be worried about showing game quality, I'm expecting a team waiting for a mistake, a sneaky team”, he said. 

Even with no chances of qualifying there are other aspects to have in mind and that will serve as motivation for the players in the starting lineup.

“I make a clear separation between the match and the point issue. We would like to be fighting for the qualification, but it is not possible. There are fans in the stands, there are players who want to show their value. There are motivations. We want to be again in the Champions League and for that to happen we have to work well in the championship, but also in the remaining competitions: Portuguese Cup and League Cup”, he stressed. 

Asked to reveal if Raúl Jiménez will be in the starting XI, the coach Rui Vitória only admitted he will be in the squad list. 

“Raúl Jiménez will be in the squad list. I will not say if he will play, because I never say that”, he stated.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: João Paulo Trindade / SL Benfica