Nine Years Later: Benfica 2013 Portuguese Cup Champions

The Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal) is arguably the second most important title (The League is first) to win in Portugal. There is something about going through a tournament all season long which involves teams from the first four divisions within Portugal that brings a sense of pride and accomplishment to the winning team as being the absolute "Best Team In Portugal."

This year Vitória de Guimarães will face Benfica at Estádio Nacional, Jamor in Lisbon, Portugal. The final  has taken place at this venue since 1946 with the exception of the 1961 where it took place near Porto to accommodate the Minho  teams FC Porto and Leixões. 

Benfica is the most successful team in this tournament winning 24 Portuguese Cups (winning their first in 1939). Although, Benfica has 8 more titles then FC Porto. Benfica have not won this tournament since 2004 defeating FC Porto in extra time 2-1. 

Benfica need to win this year's Portuguese Cup for the following reasons:

1) It has been 9 years since we last won it. (Porto x 4, Sporting x2, Serubal x 1, Academica x 1)

2) If Benfica lose, then the 2012/13 season will go down as "The Year Benfica Choked" giving momentum to our rivals FC Porto, and Sporting. 

3) If Jorge Jesus wants any sort of credit as an accomplished coach in Europe and if he wants to gain some of the points back that he lost with the fans, they will win

4) The Players worked hard this year and deserve a championship

5) The fans deserve to celebrate a victory

Although some regard the 2012/13 season as a failure for Benfica, (Losing the league a third straight year to FC Porto, and allowing Chelsea to score in the 93" of the European Cup Final) many feel that if Benfica are victorious this Sunday it will not be a total bust. This is especially true if you are Benfica coach Jorge Jesus. Benfica's President LFV spoke out the day after Benfica's Europa League Cup Final loss to Chelsea saying that " Jorge Jesus is not going anywhere" and will remain at the helm for the next 2 seasons.

As a Benfica soçio, I feel that I am not the only one in favour of JJ's departure. He will go down as one of Benfica's most successful coaches who really at the end of the day did not win much besides the 2009/10 season. He may redeem himself somewhat if Benfica are victorious this Sunday at the Jamor but it is very frustrating for the fans and for the Benfica organisation to lose 2 titles in extra time within 96 hours of each other. 

This Sunday I hope that all of the fans can try to forget about the disappointing defeats throughout this season. Let's put on our jersey with pride and support this team because we are all down and out. We need something to celebrate and we need Benfica to bring back this titles that we have not seen in 9 years. 

JJ has the tendency to experiment on big games by changing the squad line-up. For example; one can argue that the Europa Cup Final vs.Chelsea, Benfica did not start their best 11. Had Lima started over Rodrigo perhaps the game would of gone differently? On Paper Lima has scored more goals then Rodrigo. Perhaps Benfica would not of struggled the way that they did in the first half of that game.  Europe has come and gone and right now the Portuguese Cup is what is in front of us. 

My biggest concern is that JJ may underestimate this Vitória de Guimarães squad and may want to experiment. I say if he wants the win he must stay conservative and play Benfica's best 11. 

Artur, Maxi, Luisao, Garay (if he's not hurt), Melga, Matic, Enzo, Salvio, Gaitan, Lima, Cardozo. 

At some point have Aimar make an appearance as a proper send off because we know that he's leaving. Give some minutes to Almeida and Gomes so that they can experience playing in a championship game at Benfica and as the saying goes, "Bob is your Uncle."

Benfica's Curse Ends Today! Benfica vs Chelsea May 15, 2013

It was 51 years ago in which Benfica won their last European title in ironically enough Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, Holland. Today Amsterdam hosts the UEFA Europa League Final as 2012 UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea face the underdogs Benfica.

ON PAPER

Benfica have just come off a brutal series of games that included a crucial 90 +1 " lost to FC Porto which may have cost Benfica winning the Liga Zon Sagres to Porto. Although, there is one game left in the Liga, Benfica need to not only defeat last place team Moreirense but hope that 2013/14 newly promoted UEFA Champions League 3rd place Pacos De Ferreira tie or defeat the current first place FC Porto.

Although it has been a long season and both teams are experiencing some fatigue, both teams will tough it out for the silverware. We are all aware that this is NOT the UEFA Champions League Title, however, winning a UEFA Europa League still makes you a winner in Europe and wouldn't teams like Inter Milan, Tottenham, and Zenit be happy with winning a European title as oppose to no title at all?

For Benfica, they will be without veteran right - back Maxi Perreira as he is suspended because of the accumulative yellow cards. More then likely, Benfica will play a 4-2-3-1 system which is a format often used for these games. The lineup may look like this;

Artur; Andre Almeida; Luisao; Garay; Melgarejo; Enzo; Matic; Salvio; John; Gaitan; Cardozo

One can argue playing Lima behind Cardozo, however Benfica has to be strong in the mid if they want to press against the likes of Ramires, and Juan Mata. Players like Gaitan and Salvio and John will definitely give Chelsea a hard time on the flanks. I suggest to Benfica coach JJ that if Benfica are up 2 goals in the 80" I say put in Aimar as a thank you send off for his great work at the team over the years. 

For Chelsea, they have been injury prone as of late. They will be without captain John Terry, John Mikel Obel, Eden Hazzard, and Ryan Bertrand which are all key players. Ex- Benfica stars Ramires and David Luiz will be in Chelsea's starting 11. Luiz has a place in his heart for Benfica and has said in the past "If Football was about passion, then I would of stayed at Benfica."

KEY FACTOR

Although the EPL is long gone and Manchester United have prevailed league winners in 2013, Chelsea has no silverware left to play for. This may be a key factor for Chelsea and may motivate them

Benfica is going into this game as the underdog. The reality is that it was only last year that Benfica played Chelsea in the Quarter- Finals stages and were praised by Football critics. Although, Chelsea went through to win the UEFA Champions League, anyone who saw the Benfica vs Chelsea games praised Benfica's performance and if it wasn't for a fluke goal by Raul Meireles and 2 hand balls from John Terry (which were not called) Benfica would of advanced farther in the competition. The point being, as long as Benfica go into the game with the mind set to win and give it all of their best they can come out of this game victorious.

THE CURSE

Before Mourinho there was Guttman. A ex- Jewish, Hungarian player with confidence and arrogance. He told it how it was and was often referred to "Irrating and Erratic". Guttman coached such teams as AC Milan, and FC Porto. In 1959 after winning the league with FC Porto, Guttman became Benfica's coach. His philosophy was simple, focus more on attacking and less on defense. This is a philosophy that he adapted from the powerful Hungarian National Team of the 1950's. 

While at Benfica Guttman released 22 Benfica players his first season and added 2 new players. He was a big supporter of Benfica youth and looked at their junior teams to step up. Guttman only lasted 2 years at the helm, he won 2 back - to- back Portuguese League Titles, 1 Portuguese Cup title and Benfica made history as being the only Portuguese team to win 2 back - to- back European Championship titles in 1961 and 1962. 

At the end of all of this, Guttman did what most coaches would do, he marched into the Benfica President's office and asked for a raise. When Benfica president António Carlos Cabral Fezas Vital, refused, Gutman proclaimed;

 “Without me not in a hundred years from now will Benfica win a European Cup”

BENFICA EUROPEAN HISTORY

If Guttman's predictions are correct then Benfica will only win their next European title in 2062. By then, I will be 79 years old. If we look at Benfica's European history, and the teams that they played in European competitions, would Guttman of made the difference? 

The superstitious people would say yes where as the normal, level headed soccer individual would say no. Football like everything changes in time. In the 1968 final would anyone have predicted that Manchester United would of scored 3 goals in extra time? In 1988, the title was decided on penalty kicks in which at this point it's 50/50 for both teams and luck is the biggest factor then strategy. Finally, in 1990 AC Milan had an incredible team including such legends as Van Basten, and Rijkaard and they had just come off of 2 back to back UEFA Champions League victories, the surprise of that game was that Benfica only lost 1-0. 

Benfica has 9 European Championship Finals which makes them the seventh team in Europe with the most Championship appearances. (Real Madrid, Ac Milan, Ajax, Nottingham Forrest, Liverpool, Bayern Munich) Here is a list of Benfica finals:

1960–61 (3-2 Win Barcelona) 
1961–62 (5-3 win Real Madrid.)
1962–63,(lost 2-1 AC Milan) 

1964–65,(1-0 lost to Inter) 

1967–68,(4-1 loss to Manchester United in extra time) 

1982–83 UEFA Cup.(2-1 loss to Anderlecht on Agg)

1987–88 (6-5 loss on PK to PSV,) 

1989–90 (1-0 loss to Milan) 

2012-13 vs Chelsea

Also, Benfica have 13 semi - final appearances with 9 wins and 4 loses, and 27 Quarter - Final appearances in European competition. 

LAST WORDS

As a fan I am in a state of Euphoria. Words cannot express the excitement that I feel about this team. My wife sometimes asks me if I love Benfica more then her. I often respond "I love you both the same."

This championship is important for many reasons

1) It will guarantee Jorge Jesus a contract renewal at the helm

2) Benfica fans have been waiting 51 years for a European title to return to Lisbon

3) Dedicated players like Luisao, Cardozo, Maxi, Aimar, Martins, deserve it. These are guys who have put in their blood, sweat, and tears for 5, even 10 years at Benfica

4) We want to show the world that Benfica is not some rinky dinky team. 

5) Portugal has now moved up in the European co-efficient passing France. Benfica winning today will grant 3 Portuguese teams in next year's Champions Leagues and an extra 3-4 in Europa League. That's incredible for Portugal (As long as one of those teams is Benfica)

Where there is history, there is passion. 

Axel Witsel & Javi Garcia's Life After Benfica

On the final day of the 2012 summer transfer window Benfica's valuable number 6, Javi Garcia was transferred to Manchester City for a near 20 Million Euros. Benfica fans were shocked to see him go as for the previous 3 years upon arrival, Garcia became one of Benfica's strongest, players who dominated their midfield. No sooner after Garcia's departure, Belgian mid-fielder Axel Witsel departed to Russia where he joined Zenit St - Petersburg for a whopping 40 Million Euros. This deal was finalized on September 3, 2013 where the 23 year old packed his bags and flew to Russia. 

At the time Benfica had just kicked off the 2012/13 Liga Zon Sagres season. Everyone was nervous about the new season as Benfica was left virtually naked in the mid - field. Although we had sign ex Braga striker Lima and acquired winger Ola John from FC Twente, nothing specific stood out to the Benfica fans to show the league that they were going to be a big super power and besides filling in gaps in the mid field, Benfica were still without a proper left back as well.

So what happens when a few valuable players depart one club to the next?

Well, its quite simple, those departed players positions become vacant and the coach can decide whether or not to fill in those spots within the club or outside the club. Luckily, with Benfica's depth in squad keeping it within the club was an option. (Especially when you have a team of 40+ active players) JJ decided to appoint 22 year old ex-Chelsea Mid Nemanja Matić as Benfica new number 6 replacing Javi Garcia. We were all unsure at first as to whether or not Matić would be a suitable replacement (JJ had also appointed former Paços De Ferreira striker Lorenzo Melgarejo as Benfica's new LB)

Going back not that long ago to the 2011/12 season, Matić had 27 appearances in all Benfica competitions (9  started league games) only 5 less then Garcia. While Garcia had injuries and knocks, Matić filled in and was praised by most. This was more then enough of a reason to give Matić the chance to fill in as Benfica's new #6.We are now approaching the end of 2012/13 and Matić 's strength in the midfield is one of the reason why Benfica has dominated this season. He is also considered to be one of Benfica's MVP and may even be considered the Liga Zon Sagres 2012/13 most valuable player either. He is quick with the ball and his focus, and skills are evident. And of course, my favorite moment of this season was this one ... 

Matić has earned the respect of the fans and of Benfica. He has worked hard to contribute to this year's success. It would not be fair to say that he is better or worse then Garcia but has done a great job as a starting role for Benfica. The money spoke and Garcia left Benfica to join Manchester City and to advance his career in the EPL in which some critics say that his move was one of the biggest flops of 2012/13. At Benfica, Garcia was praised by the fans, if he was not injured then he was playing 90+ minutes every game. And now that Matić is a MVP it may be a matter of time before attractive offers come in for him. If Garcia wants to be praised by the fans and given more then 16 apps in once season, then a Benfica return would not be out of the question?

As for Axel Witsel, well besides his hot girlfriend's on instagram who remembers Axel Witsel? He was a rare case. He came in from Standard Liege in Belgium, spent one season with Benfica and was sold for ridiculous amounts of money. Benfica made 4 x more money then what they paid for Witsel and now look he's in Russia freezing his ass off. Unless Witsel really makes an impact, he will be freezing over there with Hulk and Bruno Alves. Enzo Pérez benefited from Witsel departure. Enzo was originally a winger who was adapted into the mid by JJ and was considered written off and problematic due to his problems with the club during the previous season. Enzo and Matić are a better midfield combo for Benfica because 1) Garcia and Witsel fell apart at the end of last season 2) Benfica was unable to perform in Europe and in Portugal last year as they have this season.