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‘Incomprehensible’ – Ex-club chief says Manager faces sack
Benfica boss Roger Schmidt could end up losing his job if he doesn’t get a convincing result against Rangers in the Europa League, according to José Manuel Antunes.
The former vice president of the Portuguese giants told Radio Renascenca’s Bola Branca on 4 March that following their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of rivals Porto a day earlier he didn’t see how the German could stay with another defeat to the Light Blues and no silverware.
Philippe Clement takes his side to Lisbon on Thursday (7 March) for the first leg of their last 16 tie, with the return at Ibrox a week later on 14 March.
Antunes said, translated to English: “It will always be a decision by the management, but as a fan I would see [Schmidt’s stay] with difficulty, if we fell with Rangers, didn’t win the championship and the Cup.
“It is incomprehensible that there was such a disaster. It is a defeat that borders on shame for the Benfica nation. It’s a completely absurd thing, it didn’t look like Benfica. Santa Clara responded much more.”
Roger Schmidt job may be on the line against Rangers in Europa League clash
Clement also tasted defeat at Ibrox as Rangers boss for the first time with the surprise 2-1 reverse at the hands of Motherwell on Saturday (2 March), but it pales in comparison to the lead-in for the Gers’ opponents.
The comprehensive loss to a Porto side who came into the game trailing Benfica by nine points, with the result passing up the chance to go back to the top of the Liga Portugal, would appear to be the worst preparation for a big European tie.
The Light Blues will have to hope there isn’t a major positive reaction to the set back and that the pressure to respond opens the door to coming back to Glasgow with a good result.
Much as Clement would love to emulate Giovanni van Bronchhorst’s rousing run to the final of this competition two seasons ago he will know the SPFL title race is the priority overall, where Celtic passed up the opportunity to take advantage of the Rangers slip.
By the next time the Belgian has his side in league action however he will know whether it is his last chance at another trophy this season to add to the League Cup, with the Scottish Cup tie against Hibs sandwiched between the two legs against Benfica.
