Martim Neto says that Schmidt asks for ″intensity and rigor″ at Benfica

Portuguese footballer Martim Neto this Wednesday summarized Benfica’s pre-season training to “a lot of intensity, aggression and rigor”, requested by the new coach, the German Roger​​​​​Schmidt, before another session of work in England.

“Always a lot of intensity in what we do. We’ve had intense, hard training. It’s normal in pre-season to prepare for the games that are coming. Essentially, that’s it: a lot of intensity, aggression and rigor”, he told reporters at St. George’s Park, in Burton Upon Trent.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who has spent eight seasons with the “incarados”, since the youth ranks, took part in winning the UEFA Youth League last season.

Martim Neto took “proud” to be among players “of great quality and greater experience” to “evolve and learn”, noting that there are 13 more athletes from the formation included in the work of the “eagles” professional squad.

“The team has a very united group, strong, with a very good atmosphere”, he added.

On the possibility of joining the main squad in 2022/23, the young player said he had no guarantees. “I just do my job and then you’ll see,” he concluded.

Benfica will continue the training camp in England until Thursday, facing Nice (July 15th) and Fulham (17th) in the Algarve, in a pre-season that also includes a friendly match in Geneva (July 22nd). ) and the Eusébio Cup against Newcastle on 26 July.

The season of the “incarnates” started earlier, with the need to prepare the entry into the third qualifying round for access to the Champions League (2/3 and 9 August), while the I Liga starts on the weekend of August 6th/7th.