Hugo Martins has no doubts in pointing out Benfica as the big favorite to achieve victory, in the match on the third round of the league stage of the Europa League, in which they will face Omonia, starting at 8pm (Mainland Portugal time) next Thursday, at the Neo GSP Stadium, in Nicosia.
In an interview given to this Monday’s edition of the newspaper O Jogo, the Portuguese coach (who has coached AEL Limassol for just over a year) emphasizes, even so, that Marco Silva’s men will not have it easy: “They were the champions, and they are in this competition because they failed to reach the Champions League. They have a quality team, despite having lost their great offensive references, Mmaee and Willy Semedo.
“The coach, Henning Berg, has his own dynamic. Although the team is still not as integrated and at the same level as last year, because new players arrived, the idea is very similar. Last season they were at a better collective level, as the connection was lost, but the team is growing”, he began by stating.
“It may take some time, they have quality. They are in a good moment. Now, like last year, in the defensive transition, when they lose the ball in high areas, they don’t have as intense pressure and this leads them to receive more transitions. Benfica, with stronger players, will be able to take advantage”, he continued.
“When you recover the low ball, you will have a lot of space to move around and explore. Now, Benfica is a big club and they can transcend themselves and be more alive”, he added, pointing out 31-year-old Swedish midfielder Muamer Tankovic as the main name to take into account: “He’s the most creative player, he’s very good at the last pass, he’s unbalanced on dead balls and he’s central to the coach’s manoeuvre”.
“Omonia is the local Benfica”
Hugo Martins also warned about the environment that Benfica will find on this trip to Cyprus: “I consider that Benfica is much stronger, there is a big individual and collective difference. Now, Omonia plays at home, with a full stadium, it’s Benfica from here, and the team with the most fans on the island, has a strong atmosphere and is doing well”.
“On the other hand, Benfica is playing very well, with many corridor dynamics, capable of attracting and running the game, Omonia will have many difficulties. For Omonia, 80% of the games are about taking over, they are an extremely offensive team, but I don’t believe that against Benfica they will have that ascendancy and will go through situations that are not even natural for them”, he said.
“Prestianni is a real atomic mouse”
Finally, the Portuguese coach recognized the Eagles with “several players” capable of making a difference, although there are “two or three” who “are in excellent shape”, as is the case of Gianluca Prestianni: “He is a real atomic rat. Last year he was controversial, but this year he is a figure for what he plays on the field”.
“He is clearly a player with the greatest signal at this stage at Benfica, he is in a very good moment. Now, regardless of who plays, Benfica, due to their collective strength, will allow any of the players at the front to stand out. I think it has a lot to do with what Benfica does in collective terms, this will enhance the player”, he concluded.
