Mario Götze was the player chosen by PSV to anticipate the clash with Benfica, in the 2nd leg of the play-off for access to the Champions League.
The German international was confident with this Tuesday’s meeting, although he reserves most of his ideas for what the game will present tomorrow, such as the existence or not of a low defensive block on the part of Benfica.
“It may be your plan, with a five-line and a low block, and try to get out fast on the counterattack, but we have to wait and see. If that happens, even though most players try to finish in the area, we have to be prepared to shoot from other places as well”, he added, stressing that “the team knows that it has to score goals, it has to win and pass the tie, and it’s ready”.
“We showed last week that we are capable of passing the tie”, also guaranteed the player, who repeatedly reinforced the idea of being “a final, at home” and that he obliges us to give everything. “We are confident, but it will be a tough game. We know the quality that Benfica has and that they will have most likely achieved what they wanted in the first game, which was to win the match. It will be resolved in the details», he added.
After being a number 10, a second striker or even a false 9, Götze assumed a construction position in midfield in Eindhoven: «I changed my way of playing a little bit and things have been going well, it gives me more influence and flexibility to participate in the game.”
Asked if he agreed with the compliments directed at him by Jorge Jesus, the footballer was quite affirmative, between laughs. “I can only be at a great level if the team is too. It’s good to hear praise, but these were also praise for the team.”
Götze will meet Julian Weigl, former teammate at Dortmund: “He’s a good guy, a good player. We did a lot of training and games together, and today we have to get used to being in different clubs, he at Benfica and I at PSV. Tomorrow, even because of the positions we have on the field, we’ll cross each other many times.»
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