Roger Schmidt: "We are ready"

PREVIEW

Roger Schmidt previewed the derby against FC Porto, matchday 7 of the Liga Betclic, to be played this Friday, September 29, at 8:15 pm, at the Estádio da Luz. 

What are your expectations for the derby? Are Bah and Di María available for the match?

We're going to see a top football match. Two very good teams facing each other, who also have some experience in this type of match. It's the fourth time we've played and the games are always very difficult, very demanding. But we also have a lot of experience in these kinds of games. We're in very good shape, the atmosphere in the team is very good... the players are in very good shape. All the players have trained, and we just need to get the team details right. We're ready, we're playing a direct opponent at home, and we can take three points from them. It's a great opportunity for us, that's how we see the game, we know we have to play at our best because FC Porto will too. We're ready.

What are FC Porto's main attributes? What weaknesses can be exploited?

I can't go into too much tactical detail. FC Porto are a team that win a lot of games. They have a winning mentality, they're a tactically disciplined team. All the players strive to be part of the team's tactics and have a lot of individual quality. These are characteristics of all teams that need to win a lot of games and are fighting for titles. They show these characteristics every week. Even in difficult moments they're capable of winning games and that says it all, but it's a reality in international football, not just in Portuguese soccer. That's why it's difficult to play against them.

FC Porto have won their last two games at Estádio da Luz. What impact will this have on the players?

Those games are part of history. You can always find statistics to talk about in the media, but my job is to think game by game. Tomorrow's game [Friday], for example, has nothing to do with the games of recent seasons, nor with the Super Cup, which we won. We also won last year in Porto. This will be a new game, a new challenge. From the first minute we have to be prepared, think about our game plan and tactics, the approach we have to take. The teams' approaches will be on the pitch. The team that is able to dominate and find the right moment and influence the game positively is the one that will win. That's my belief. The past doesn't matter. The teams have fit players, they'll be very motivated and ready for tomorrow [Friday]. They'll give everything, and we want to be the team to win the three points.

Do you think Neres can play alongside Di María?

It's always a question of balance, the form of the players, the tactical approach and a bit of the opponent. There are many different topics to define the eleven. You have to have good options on the bench, but anything is possible... even if they can play together. Teams always need to have balance, and the players have to be prepared to play reliable football in tactical terms. That's the main topic. That's why we were champions last season. Tactically, as a team, we were always very focused and connected. That's something we have to achieve in every game, especially in the top games. For tomorrow [Friday], we need to make a good decision. We need a good eleven and top players coming off the bench.

Bearing in mind that António Silva won't be able to play in the next game against Inter, have you decided who you'll play alongside Otamendi? Will you keep Morato in the starting eleven?

I haven't decided anything yet. There's time. Now we have more options. Of course, I'll be aware of the situation next week for Inter, but what matters is focusing on tomorrow's game [Friday] and not looking too far ahead. All the players are doing very well in training. We have four very good central midfielders. We need all of them. Morato has been good in the last two games, when he came on against Salzburg and Portimonense. It's good for us to have competition. I'll make a decision tomorrow [Friday].