Roger Schmidt: "We have shown a spirit of unity in everything we have done"

POST-GAME

Roger Schmidt analyzed Benfica's 4-0 win against Vitória SC in Matchday 4 of the Liga Betclic.

WIN WITH A CLEAN SHEET

"It was a good game. We started well, very focused, with a lot of power ahead and managed to create good moments in the attack, against a good team. They showed in the first three games that it’s hard to score against them and create opportunities, but we managed to do it. We have shown a spirit of unity in everything we have done. We had good offensive moments and also in the defensive process, giving no chance for the counterattack. We scored the first goal and, after the red card [shown to a Guimarães player], it became a little easier, but it is also a challenge to keep the tension and go after the decisive moments. The players did it, we scored three more goals, and we could have scored five or six. We are happy, we did not concede goals and we won this game before the break for the national teams, against a great opponent. It was a perfect day for us."

KÖKCÜ AND JOÃO NEVES TOGETHER

"Everyone can play together. Chiquinho, Florentino, Orkun [Kökcü] and João Neves are all good choices. In practice or in games, they play with each other. In my opinion, Orkun [Kökcü], new at Benfica, showed their quality in the pre-season, with confidence, and proved to be very good not only with the ball, as he showed today [Saturday, September 2], with good moments to attack and a fantastic goal, but also without the ball. He’s a tactically reliable player, good at pushing, and that’s what we need in midfield, complete players. That’s why he confirmed once again that he is in great shape and very happy in the team. Overall, it wasn’t just one player, they were all connected and we played good football, but we also worked hard. We were ready to defend counterattacks, to close behind and I liked how we played. It was important, because there are very demanding weeks coming after the international break and we have to play every three, or every four days, at a top level. The real season starts after this stop."

MIHAILO'S TRANSFER

"Sometimes football is like that. He didn't play much, and a player who doesn’t play much starts thinking about leaving the club to have more minutes. I can understand that, it was his own decision to leave and, in my opinion, it was a good decision for him. I hope he can play more at RC Celta because he is a great player and a great person, I really like him."

THE GOALKEEPERS

"Odysseas spent five years at Benfica, won some trophies, was almost always number one and did it very well. Last season we won the Championship with him, and we won the Super Cup with him. We always seek to improve, to create new energy, as I said two or three weeks ago. It’s football. We made the decision to have Trubin, to have another top goalkeeper with a lot of potential. It’s a new situation, Odysseas decided to leave, and we respect that. We have Trubin, Samuel [Soares], Leo [Kokubo] and André [Gomes]. Trubin is different, has played at the highest level, in the Champions League and in the national team, has more experience. I wanted to take advantage of this situation to give Samuel more playing time, because it is important that he also shows that he is able to play in a club like Benfica. There’s always pressure and responsibility. The arrival of Trubin after the pre-season was good to give Samuel the opportunity, and Trubin the possibility to be with the team, to feel comfortable at Benfica and work in training to be prepared to play. I’m happy with the options we have."

THE ARRIVAL OF JUAN BERNAT

"After Mihailo's move we needed one more option [for left-back]. We have so many games, and for me, it’s a perfect transfer, Juan Bernat is an experienced player and arrived on loan, so we don’t have to invest a lot of money. We have two options: Jurásek, a young player, who has a lot of potential to develop in Benfica; and Juan Bernat, a very experienced player. It’s the perfect situation in this position."