Benfica coach Marcel Matz conceded his team’s Sunday derby defeat to rivals Sporting was well-deserved, highlighting his squad’s struggles and the mental fortitude now required.
“Sporting won with merit,” Matz said following the match. “They are more confident. They came to our house and inflicted a tough defeat on us.”
The coach pointed to Benfica’s inability to match their opponents’ aggression in serving. He also noted that Benfica’s “Zone 4” performance was not superior to Sporting’s.
Matz expressed confidence, however, that the team’s performance in that specific area could improve.
He acknowledged that the path forward “will be tough.” Matz stressed the necessity for the team to focus significantly on its “mentality” day by day.
The defeat has created a “bad feeling” within the team, according to Matz. He insisted his players must remain strong and work to improve.