Rui Costa warns Benfica squad before Real Madrid clashes | OneFootball

Rui Costa conveyed total confidence to the Benfica squad ahead of the playoff against Real Madrid, even in the face of all the challenges that a knockout tie of this level may present, according to Glorioso1904. The President believes that the squad is prepared to compete on equal terms with the Spaniards.

Despite facing an opponent of enormous prestige, the Eagles’ top executive, as our newspaper has learned, feels that the victory achieved in the last round of the league phase (4-2) was not a matter of chance and has reinforced the conviction that it is possible to repeat such a feat.

Rui Costa trusts in José Mourinho’s experience in European competitions. The coach’s leadership, tactical knowledge, and experience are a fundamental asset in the double clash against Los Merengues, which means the team can benefit from the manager’s prestige.

The President wants to take advantage of Álvaro Arbeloa’s inexperience in managing games of this caliber. Rui Costa believes that José Mourinho’s ability to motivate the players and adjust the strategy throughout the match could make the difference against a strong Real Madrid side, but one that can be surprised.

The playoff matches are scheduled for February 21 in Lisbon and February 28 in Madrid, dates that promise moments of great excitement and could define Benfica’s future in European competition. It is worth recalling that Real Madrid is the club with the most Champions League titles: 15.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.