Benfica’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Coentrao expects his team to be in UEFA Europa League final
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SL-Benfica-c40542 defender, Fabio Coentrao, has urged his teammates not to consider Sporting Braga an easy opponent when the two teams meet for the second-leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final. Benfica came out on top during the first leg of the tie by a 2-1
margin and Coentrao has now demanded a positive approach from his team on Thursday. Both Benfica and Sporting Braga will lock horns on May 05.
The 23-year-old added that Benfica only have a slim advantage over their opponents, which by no means confirms their participation in the final. He admitted that big games like semi-finals and finals are never easy and one cannot predict a winner until the
final whistle is blown.
He warned his side against complacency and enthused that Braga would look to diminish the advantage early in the piece, which will require his team to be on their toes from the very first minute.
Further voicing his opinion about the upcoming encounter, Coentrao told, "Semi-finals are never easy matches – only good teams get to semis, and both Braga and ourselves have done really well to progress this far in the tournament. We know how good we can
be and we also know that Braga are an excellent side, but only one of us can go through and we have to make sure it is us going to the final."
Benfica are currently second in the Portuguese Super Liga with 59 points. They are certain to stay there as their opponents in the semi-final, Braga, are 14 points adrift and are on the third spot with just two games left to play in the 2010/11 season.
The Portuguese International, though, claimed that Benfica are favourites to win the tie after their first leg victory. He insisted upon the need for more consistency and also wanted more application from his side ahead of the all important tie.
The former Zaragoza man concluded, "Braga are tough opponents, even more in a semi-final. However, the fact is we are in pole position having won the first leg and we need to repeat that in the second. This is the only competition we have left to play for
and we are going to do our best. We have to treat the game as if it is 0-0."
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