Roger Schmidt: "It is a great achievement!"

PRESS CONFERENCE

It was a superb, delicious and insatiable Benfica that, in Israel, worked, believed and thrashed Maccabi Haifa by 1-6 in the last round of the Champions League group stage.

WINNING MENTALITY AND SPIRIT

"[What I said to the players at the end of the game] I congratulated them and expressed enormous respect for what they did, not only today [Wednesday], but throughout this group stage. They were fantastic, they played at a very high level. We wanted to do it again today, we believed in our chance to win the group, and that we could finish with more points than PSG in the head-to-head (Juventus could win), but in the end, we both won. We scored more goals [away], we were very efficient, the players deserve this, they showed great mentality and spirit. When you can do this and play at this level for all six rounds, you deserve to be the leader! We finished 1st in the group, and it's a great achievement." 

THE SPORTING IMPORTANCE AND PRESTIGE

[Advantages of winning the group] I think it's very clear... When you are first there are several advantages because you play against a runner-up and the second game, the 2nd leg of the round of 16 is at home. That is important, but not only. It is also important for the players and for the prestige of the Club. It is a great achievement. Now we are focusing on the other competitions because the Champions League will be on hold until mid-February. We are very happy to have achieved 1st place. It is a great achievement!"

HAPPINESS AND CONFIDENCE... ALREADY FOCUSED ON SUNDAY

"We had a good group stage, we have to keep our humility and continue to respect all the opponents that are in the round of 16 and that have a lot of quality. We have to prepare and think about Sunday's Portuguese League match [game against Estoril]."

SUBSTITUTIONS WERE KEY: EVERYONE COUNTS!

"We can count on all the players! The key to today's victory, in order to achieve the leadership of the group, was the substitutions. I am very pleased with everyone's performance. It's not easy for those who haven't been in the starting eleven, because we haven't made big changes, but they are trained and prepared, and today they showed it. There were many positive points."