“We played a very good game from the start”

POST-MATCH

Five goals without reply (5-0), Benfica beat Arouca on matchday 33 of da Liga Betclic, held this Sunday, May 12, at Estádio da Luz.

Pleased with the team's performance, Roger Schmidt highlighted the Reds' display.

"I enjoyed everything, we played a very good game from the start, we created a lot of chances, we scored five goals, but we have the potential to score more. We showed happiness with the ball, we recovered a lot of balls, we were very good in transition, and, in the last home game of the season, we showed the fans that we want to give them good football until the last second. That's what the team did", analyzed the coach in a quick interview with BTV. 

GAME ANALYSIS

"It was a very good game, our last home game, and we wanted to show the fans good football, play a good game and, of course, win this match. The players did very well. FWe were able to create plenty of chances from the first minute. In the end, we scored five goals. We played good football and it was a good team performance. I'm very happy that we were able to give the fans a very positive send-off."

PRAISE FOR RAFA

"Today [Sunday, May 12] was also a special game because it was our last home game this season, but also because it was Rafa's last home game. I have to say that, as a coach, I really enjoyed working with him. For me, he's a very special player, with fantastic quality, one of the best players I've had in my teams. He's also a good person, very special, very honest, very direct, with a lot of passion for football and also for the club. He made his decision... When I arrived at Benfica, there was no certainty whether I would stay or not. We talked about it, and we talked about it again last summer. He decided twice to stay at Benfica, and I'm very happy to be his coach. It was also very important for him to have a good game today. He scored two goals, made an assist, showed his quality once again, and I'm very happy with his performance as a whole." 

DI MARÍA FORM HIGHLIGHTED

"Ángel [Di María]? I'm not sure, there's still some hope that he could stay, I don't think he's made his decision yet. Just as I praised Rafa, it's the same with Ángel [Di María]. He's a very experienced player with a fantastic career, he's still in fantastic form. In my opinion, he had a great season, with many goals, many assists and responsibility in our game. His first thought before the season was to stay a year at Benfica and perhaps finish his career in Argentina. At the moment, everything is open. For my part, if you ask me, as his coach, it would be good to work with him for another season, because he's still at a top level, even with a little more experience. Looking at his ambition and motivation in training and also in matches, he's a role model for the other players. Let's see what happens."

BRINGING BENFICA FANS TOGETHER

"As you said, these [dissatisfied] people get a lot of attention, especially from you [journalists], but one thing is very clear: in these circumstances it's impossible for us to be champions. If the solution involves me leaving, we have to talk about it. In my opinion, the way Benfica fans reacted at the stadium was good, but we can't go on like this all season. In my opinion, it's a very special situation, the players were fantastic, they focused on playing good football. But in order to change something and have the whole stadium on our side, we have to think about it. As I said, if the solution is for me to leave, we have to talk about it, but for now, these fans have had enough attention, and now we want to focus on the other Benfiquistas... the women, the men, the girls, the boys, the grandfathers, the grandmothers, these are the Benfiquistas, not the other people. In my opinion, they showed it today in a good way, and that's the solution. How do we get everyone on our side? We have to see."