José Mourinho said this Tuesday, November 4, that he expects Benfica to be confident with their winning streak and appealed to the fans to “play” against Bayer Leverkusen, in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase.
“We went through a negative moment in Newcastle and the reaction was very good, winning three games in a row. I hope that these three victories, the goals scored and the goals we didn’t concede, the way we controlled the games, bring a confident team, feeling greater empathy with the stadium and less pressure. I think the players will rise to the occasion and things will go well”, expressed José Mourinho.
In a press conference previewing the reception to the Germans, the Eagles’ coach considered the opponent similar to last season’s version, led by Xabi Alonso, although with different players, and assumed that it will be an important game for both teams.
“It’s a difficult team, which had a difficult start to the season. The last result with Bayern Munich [derrota por 3-0] It’s a little out of context, because it’s Bayern and also because some players rested. There are two teams that need points and a highly difficult duel is expected for us and them. The stadium may be full of people who are going to watch the game, or who want to play the game. If the fans want to play, I think we will win”, said the coach from Setubal.
Mourinho, 62 years old, was pleased with the expansion of the range of options in the squad, given the recovery of Amar Dedic and the good responses given by Leandro Barreiro or Andreas Schjelderup at Vitória de Guimarães.
“When I arrived, I focused on a smaller group of players and that range has been progressively getting bigger. I’m starting to look at some players in a different way, with more positive eyes. That helps me. Some kind of doubt may arise, but they are good problems and I’m happy, as the squad has been increasing in options”, highlighted Mourinho, who says he can now use Dedic.
The coach denied that António Silva had lost his starting position and warned of the dangers that ex-Benfica player Alejandro Grimaldo could cause, both in the dead ball and in the offensive dynamics of the Germans, and highlighted the important nature of the game.
“When the match is over, and if we lose, there will still be 12 points up for grabs. With 12 points, we qualify. However, if we look at four games and zero points, we have to be very optimistic to say that we will get 12 points out of 12. Of course it is an important game. If we win, we are completely in the fight. If we don’t win, obviously the situation will become much more difficult for us. It has to be a game played with the soul of someone who really wants to win and, at the same time, without fear of that responsibility.”said the coach of the Lisbon club.
Benfica, 35th and penultimate placed, still without points, and the Germans Bayer Leverkusen, in 30th, with two, face each other on Wednesday, starting at 8:00 pm, at the Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, in a game counting for the fourth round of the league phase of the Champions League, which will be refereed by the Italian Simone Sozza.