Roger Schmidt: "We worked very well during the week"

PREVIEW

A high motivation from the working group was what coach Roger Schmidt guaranteed in the preview of the clash between Benfica and Vitória SC, from Matchday 4 of the Liga Betclic, scheduled for next Saturday at 8:30 pm, September 2, at Estádio da Luz.

What do you expect from tomorrow’s match [Saturday, September 2] against Vitória SC?

It’s always important to win before the national teams break. Play well, because we have to live with this game for two weeks. We know that we play against the first positioned, a team which won all three games, in a goo moment. They have some new players, a new coach and different weapons. I expect a difficult game, but we trained very well during the week, we are very motivated. It’ll be our second home game after Estrela da Amadora. It is important to be ready to look for goals since the initial whistle, avoid counter-attacks, score at the right time, otherwise the game becomes even more difficult. If that happens, we have to stay focused. We are prepared for everything tomorrow [Saturday, September 2], I expect a very good opponent, but we want to show, once again, how we are comfortable playing at our stadium.

Is it time to play Trubin? Or the the goal is still for Samuel Soares?

I never announce the starting eleven and decisions like that. But I gave Trubin a few weeks to get used to everything, get the confidence and connection with teammates, which in my opinion is very important. After the game with Boavista I decided to make a change in the goal, in my opinion Samuel Soares demonstrates that he is ready to play for Benfica. Trubin also has a lot of quality, has the experience of playing in the Champions League and with short time-lapse between games. I always look for the right moment for the players to act. Not only the goalkeepers, but also for other players who arrive. Sometimes the connections are very fast, and they can put into practice in training. Sometimes they need a little more time. The beginning is always special and depends on the type of player and situation in the team. But he is a very good goalkeeper, we are confident in him, now the goal situation is 100% clear.

Gonçalo Guedes returned to Benfica, when will he be ready to play? What can he bring to the team?

I hope he can come back very soon. He is very motivated, trains hard every day, three times a day. He came last winter and, even with the physical issues he had, the injuries, he always showed us that he is a top player, a player who can make a difference. We are completely convinced about him. He is a Benfica player now, he really loves playing for this club, we tried everything to have him with us. We did it! He has a lot of energy and motivation. He is a top player, an international player, we’ll do everything we can to get him back to his best shape. He will need probably three to four weeks.

What is your opinion on Benfica’s group in the Champions League?

It’s a Champions League group, very interesting in my opinion. All teams are very good. Obviously, we know Inter, we met a few months ago, in the quarter-finals [of the Champions League]. It will be a very complicated game. I also know Salzburg very well, since my time there, 10 years ago. I really like the club. They have shown a very good consistency and development in the last 10 years. They believe in their philosophy to develop young players, and they play very intensively. It is very difficult to face them. Real Sociedad is a team reached the qualification for the Champions League in the Spanish League, which shows that they have a lot of quality, it will always be a difficult game. It’s a very balanced group, we’ll need six good days to qualify for the next round. An interesting and difficult group.

How is the situation of Odysseas and Ristic? Will they leave Benfica on Friday, September 1?

This is no surprise. It’s the last day of the transfer window. As I said before, adjustments are always possible, I cannot talk yet about things that are not done. But it is possible that something happens. But I can only talk about this tomorrow [Saturday, September 2], after the game, when the transfer window is closed. Then we’ll have the facts and talk about it.