Roger Schmidt: "This victory is a clear statement of affirmation"

PRESS CONFERENCE 

Roger Schmidt analyzed Benfica's victory against FC Porto by 0-1 at Estádio do Dragão, in a game from matchday 10 of the Liga Bwin, that took place this Friday, October 21.

A FAIR VICTORY FOR THOSE WHO ENTERED THE PITCH WITH ONLY ONE OUTCOME IN MIND

"It was a very difficult game for us. It was not a beautiful football game, we expected that. It was clear that we had to defend many long balls, many set pieces, we knew that from the start. I think we only gave them one chance, at the beginning of the game, but then we defended well. We didn't play our best football, but the match had a lot of fouls, a lot of complaints and we lost a bit of momentum, especially at the end of the first half, after the FC Porto player was sent off. After the break we were better, we controlled the game and managed to have a lot of possession and make our opponent chase the ball. For us, it was clear that at any moment we would have our chance to win the match. That was the plan for the second half. Today [Friday], it didn't matter how, it mattered to win. We did it and we deserved to win."

"WE ARE ON MATCHDAY, IT IS NOT DECISIVE"

"It was clear that if we won, we would get a six-point lead. That was our goal, to win. We have a six-point lead, it's not decisive, we are on matchday 10, but winning away from home to the second-placed team is a clear statement of affirmation. We have to improve, to evolve, and today was a game for that. It was a good test for us, but now we have to focus on Juventus, and then in the Portuguese League we have to take every match to keep picking up points."

PATIENCE WAS A VIRTUE

"We controlled the game, except in the last minutes, when we conceded some set pieces to our opponent. Before, we controlled the match, we didn't let them counter-attack. We did well and were able to use the opportunities we had to score. We didn't have many chances, but the ones we did have were good. Patience was decisive in controlling the game. We controlled it in the second half, in the first neither team could control it."