Carlo Di Benedetto: “We’re in Europe’s top competition, we aim to win” | OneFootball

The final eight of the roller hockey Champions League takes place this week at the Dr. Mário Mexia Multisports Pavilion in Coimbra, and FC Porto will face HC Liceo in the quarter-finals on Wednesday at 7pm, in a match broadcast on RTP2. On the eve of “a very difficult match” against the leaders of the Spanish league, an opponent that is “very organised, defends well, allows few transitions, knows what it is doing in attack and is very competitive”, Carlo Di Benedetto stresses that only a “strong and united” FC Porto side will be able to move on in the “competition that brings together the best teams in Europe”.

X-ray of the opponent

“We know it is going to be a very difficult and fiercely contested match. It is the Champions League quarter-finals and we know HC Liceo have a very strong team. They finished the regular season of the Spanish league in first place, won the Cup, and they are a very organised team that defends well, allows few transitions, knows what it is doing in attack and is very competitive. We are aware of how difficult this match will be and, as it is the first game of the final eight, we know it will be very complicated. We have to go into it fully focused and with maximum intensity. It will be a different match from the ones we have played throughout the season. We have to start the game very well and do what we have been doing over the last few months. Our confidence has to show in this match. The ambition we have in this competition has to be clear. We recognise the importance of this match, because either we win or we go home, and we have worked very hard to win.”

The Champions League

“We know it is the biggest European competition and that it brings together the best teams in Europe, but our only objective is to win tomorrow’s match. We cannot be thinking any further ahead, especially because there will be no further ahead if we do not win tomorrow. So we are focused on beating HC Liceo in the quarter-finals.”

Good form

“It is always better to work on the back of wins, as we have been doing in recent months. We want to win matches and play well. However, we are entering that stage of the season when it no longer matters so much whether you play well or badly; what matters is winning. Winning 1-0 is perfect, because what matters is adding victories. The dressing room is very focused and really eager to enter the decisive stage. We are very focused and united.”

The Porto family

“The support of the fans is always a help. We feel very strong support whenever they are in the stands and that helps us a lot. This week is going to be very complicated, tough, and we are going to have very difficult matches. Tomorrow’s match is very important and the help of the fans travelling to Coimbra will be crucial, as will the support of those who, in one way or another, always try to send a message. We know we are not playing only for ourselves, but for many people who are always behind the team. We want to make them happy.”

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