Benfica finds itself unable to shake off its troubles prior to facing Rangers, as Schmidt bids farewell with gratitude ahead of the decisive match.
Facing criticism from his own club’s supporters demanding his resignation, Benfica’s beleaguered manager Roger Schmidt brushed it off as he opted to rest three key players ahead of their crucial match against Rangers in Scotland.
In the Europa League Round of 16 second leg, Rangers welcome the Lisbon side with the tie finely balanced after a thrilling 2-2 draw in Portugal. Despite Benfica’s recent victory over Estoril, following losses to Sporting and Porto along with a draw against Rangers, their fans displayed a clear message urging Schmidt to step down, holding up a homemade banner in German reading ‘Thank you and goodbye.’
While Schmidt was able to give crucial players Ange Di Maria, Joao Neves, and Rafa some rest, he acknowledged the high stakes of their upcoming match in Glasgow, emphasizing that only a victory will suffice for his team. He stated, “To be frank, I didn’t notice the banner. I prefer not to comment on things I haven’t seen. In our current situation, securing a win against Rangers is imperative. We are determined to perform well in all competitions and especially aim to progress to the quarter-finals.”
