“Look ahead and work hard”

POST-MATCH

After the 1-1 draw this Friday, August 30, between Benfica and Moreirense, at the Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, in matchday 4 of the Liga Betclic, Roger Schmidt emphasized the importance of the first goal in the match and regretted the lack of effectiveness in the game. 

CRUCIAL FIRST GOAL

“Moreirense are a very good defensive team, we know that from last season, and when we play here it's always difficult. So the important thing is, when you have the chances to score, to be efficient. That's what we lacked and that's why we weren't able to take the game in our direction, to score the first and then maybe the second to decide the game. What we deserved isn't important, you have to show it on the pitch, especially scoring goals at the right times. Of course we dominated the game for most of the time, we had some problems at the start with their counter-attacks, with too many unnecessary ball losses. They had some good moments, but later on we did well, we were able to stop that and then we had a lot of possession around the box, a lot of moments in the box. After the break, we put them under pressure and created some very good chances to score the first goal, which would have been very important in this game. In these games, you always need a goal to get some peace of mind. It's always the same. These games are difficult, playing here or in Famalicão isn't easy and it always helps to score the first goal, and we failed twice. At the moment, we have to accept that it's difficult for us to score goals at the right times. To be honest, I don't know exactly why we have such problems scoring goals. In every game this season, we've created chances, we've had a lot of moments around the box, a lot of crosses, but at the moment, the last 10 percent, the last precision, the last timing isn't there, so it is what it is. We have the quality for it, also the tools and everything, but in the end we're having some difficulties with it, and that's why these games are always open until the end. If you don't score, it can happen like today [Friday, August 30], a deflected ball, I think it was probably the first ball in the second half, and then you're down in the game. They scored the first goal and then you're happy if you score 1-1 in the last minute, but in the end, of course the result is disappointing for us. The players tried everything, but we have to accept that it's just a draw.”

THE CHALLENGE OF TURNING THINGS AROUND

“Of course it's always difficult, I'm not happy that we didn't win, especially the last game before the international break, it's an important game to go into the break with a good feeling. We also lost the first game, two away games. Of course they're difficult games in Famalicão, and it's not easy here either, but we still expect to win these games. I always see it as a challenge. This start to the season isn't so easy, with everything, with the pre-season without the national team players, with the player changes, all these things, the rumors around, everything is a bit noisier, but, in the end, we could still have won these games. Even today [Friday, August 30], of course we played well enough to win this game, we had better chances than them, we controlled them, we dominated them, the only thing we lacked was a goal. That's the only thing we can criticize ourselves for, but the performance, in my opinion, was good. It's not as if the players didn't show attitude, desire, motivation or tactical approach. I see all these things on the pitch. In the end, we just needed to score. I know that in football you have these kinds of phases sometimes and I'm 100 percent sure that we'll be able to work through it and turn things around.”

THINGS TO IMPROVE

“I don't think it's a question of tactics, in my opinion. Of course we're going to work on some topics, especially in attack, I think we might have some problems to solve in terms of precision, quality, timing and everything. I think that, right now, a lot of players are away on international duty, and some players will come. What's good for us will be afterwards, when all the players are back, the transfer market is closed, the players who are here, will be here, that will be our squad, and with that squad, we want to be champions. This is what we want to do, the Champions League will start then, so I think we have to look ahead and work hard to fight for our goals.”

SUPPORTIVE AND DEMANDING BENFIQUISTAS

“First of all, the fans supported the team very well today [Friday, August 30], right from the start. Of course, if you're not winning or the game is tied, then that's always the case, the fans are disappointed. We know that, we accept that, and we have to show a good reaction, as always. I've been here for two and a half years, even in the season when we became champions, when we lost the game at the end of the season, it was the same situation, so this is part of Benfica. We know the goals and the mission of the fans, of everyone, and also our own goals are to fight for titles. So if you lose points in the league, it's always a problem. It's something we fully consider and accept, and we have to win games, it's the only way out, to make the fans happy and have a good atmosphere. Now it's up to us to start with that after the international break.”