Benfica’s vice-president, Humberto Coelho, urged his team to avoid complacency against lower-ranked Farense in the upcoming Portuguese Cup round of 16, cautioning against the unpredictable nature of cup football despite a potential high-stakes clash with FC Porto in the next round.
Coelho, a historic figure for the Lisbon club, warned that smaller teams often “grow bigger” for these showcase matches, while stronger teams risk being surprised by relaxation.
“The Portuguese Cup, which is the people’s party, is extraordinary and emotional for all of us across the country,” Coelho stated, highlighting the prevalence of upsets.
He stressed that every team must play with maximum effort in the cup. “Many times, big teams start slowly, and that is often bad,” he noted.
Benfica is drawn to face Farense, a team that has previously competed in the top division, in the round of 16.
Should Benfica advance, a highly anticipated quarter-final match against rival FC Porto is a possibility.
However, Coelho dismissed focusing on the potential clash, insisting the team’s immediate priority is Farense. “FC Porto is for later, now it’s only Farense, that is our goal,” he said.
He described a potential match against FC Porto as “a big game, a game that could be a final,” but reiterated that Farense comes first.
Coelho also rejected the idea of resting key players against a second-tier opponent. He emphasized that Benfica aims to reach the final and must field its strongest team.
“Benfica has an interest in going to the final,” Coelho added. “Therefore, they must have the best team, the best players, and, as I said, they must respect the opponent and, logically, play to win.”
He concluded by stating the team needs to demonstrate superior effort and intensity, a quality he is confident Benfica will exhibit.