Jorge Jesus dreams of winning the Portuguese Cup | Soccer
On the verge of fulfilling his 400th game as Benfica coach, Jorge Jesus placed, this Thursday, in a press conference before the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup (Friday, 20:45), the commitments with the Paços de Ferreira and with Barcelona (for the Champions League, on Tuesday) at the same level of commitment in which he hopes to present a team, acknowledging, however, that it is with the conquest of the Cup that he has been dreaming of.
Closer to the end of the conference, Jesus admitted that, by placing all his chips in one of the two duels, he would choose the game of the Portugal Cup, with the Pacenses, which translates into a strong bet on the initial “eleven”, even if conditioned by the options and important absences during the preparation week.
The Benfica coach downplayed the issue of 400 games at the helm of the reds, which he sees as something natural for those who are in the eighth season at the club, but insufficient for the goals set, as he hopes to “continue many more years”.
Although indirectly, after being asked about the future at Benfica – taking a ride to lunch with the president, Rui Costa – as well as about the possibility of returning to Flamengo, Jorge Jesus ended up answering the question, leaving it to the magazines “ pink ”episodes like a photograph taken at another restaurant, which could give clues to a return to Brazil.
Jorge Jesus did not try to stray too far from the game with Paços de Ferreira, an opponent that fits in the group of teams that, not harboring aspirations for the title of national champion, end up trying their luck in the cups to enrich their respective museums.
The quality of the “beavers”, with internationals like Eustáquio, and the coach himself, increase the difficulties that Benfica will have to face, even playing at home, since “there are no secrets” for Portuguese coaches, which poses any internal dispute more complicated in that light, at least in relation to international opponents.
Benfica may have to resolve a dilemma, as they discuss with Xavi’s Barcelona the future in the Champions League, which may suggest different options to face the pacenses. This is in addition to the limitations and physical availability of internationals, especially latecomers.
Without Rodrigo Pinho, Diogo Gonçalves and, in particular, Lucas Veríssimo, the issue of central defenses (Otamendi arrives directly from the Argentine national team) is obvious and could lead to changes.
“They have been starting players for most of the games. Lucas Veríssimo is out and Otamendi was also absent… It’s natural to be able to play in another system. We worked for a week thinking about that”, assumes Jorge Jesus, responding in some way to the wishes of Jorge Simão, coach from Pacense, who in his approach to the Luz game said he was in doubt about the names of the Benfica player.
Jorge Simão spoke of “extreme rigor” and between “five to ten percent” of success, leaving a slice to the consideration of “sometimes decisive” luck.