RUI COSTA

Benfica managed to schedule a Europa league final against Chelsea after managing to overcome Turkish club Fenerbahce 3-1 in the return leg. As a result of the victory, they have progressed to the Europa league final 3-2 on aggregate.

They came into the match after having lost the first leg in Turkey 1-0. The lead could have been easily 2-0 had it not been for the missed a penalty from Fenerbahce. It ultimately proved to be the difference between the two teams, as striker Oscar Cardozo scored a brace to set the Portuguese club on the road to the final.

Nicolas Gaitan opened the scoring for the Portuguese club after just 9 min on the clock. This put the two clubs level on aggregate, but former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt restored their lead in the aggregate with a penalty in the 23rd minute. Since the penalty, though, it was a show from Cardozo, as the striker netted on either side of half to give Benfica a 3-2 win in the tie. His 35th minute goal helped Benfica equalise on aggregate, but they would have been knocked out of the competition on away goals. His second goal in the 66th minute helped them progress to the final where they will meet Chelsea. The game has already been immortalised in a football canvas.

“We knew after Istanbul that we were a better team than them overall. They didn’t create many problems for us. This is historic given the last time Benfica got to a European final and we get there with all justice. Our dynamic was stronger, pace higher and we managed to keep it throughout the match because we kept the ball. They scored from a penalty but never really created a lot of problems,” said Benfica manager Jorge Jesus after the match. He also said that his team will not be overawed by Chelsea.

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Reports in Portugal appear to suggest that the former Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo could be set for return to the club in a managerial role after that have been rumours that the current manager Andrea Stramaccioni may be sacked before the end of the season. Inter Milan appointed the young Stramaccioni as the permanent manager of the club last season. Even though his regime at the club began in an impressive fashion, this season has been extremely difficult for the former youth team manager. Inter Milan are currently fifth in the Italian Serie A table, and they are currently missing out to on their objective to compete in the Champions League next season.

The president Massimo Moratti recently gave a vote of confidence to the manager after the team managed just a return of one victory in the last five matches. Despite this poor run of form, they are just a few places and points below the third placed Lazio. Inter Milan will be set for a tough match when they take on the inform archrivals AC Milan during the weekend. There have been suggestions that if Inter lose the match, then it could signal the exit of Stramaccioni. Apparently, the former Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo is lined up as a replacement.

Figo is currently working as an ambassador at the club after retiring a few years ago. The former FIFA Ballon d’Or award winner is regarded with great respect at the San Siro for his achievements in the game. Even though he may not be awarded the managerial position full-time, he could be set for return as a caretaker manager till the end of the season. If he does take up the job, then it would be his first start to a managerial career. The 40-year-old retired from professional football in 2009.

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The young Portugal international defender Joao Pereira has said that he feels that the Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is wrongly treated by the fans. He has said that the 27-year-old is one of the best players in the world, but he is largely underappreciated by the Portugal fans. He is at a loss to explain the reason for the same, while also saying that he does not think Ronaldo does not perform for the national team. Portugal have started the qualification campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in a poor fashion. Most of the criticism has been directed towards the captain and the star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

He has arguably been one of the best players in the world alongside Lionel Messi, but he has not been able to recreate the same performance for the national team. Performances like at the euro 2012 have been far and few between. However, Pereira has said that one of the main reasons for Ronaldo playing well for Real Madrid will be due to the fact that he plays with his club players more often than not. In the case of the national team, he meets them up for a period of seven days in certain occasions.

“I think what Ronaldo and Messi are doing at the moment is incredible. At the end of every season, people keep saying ‘[Lionel] Messi won’t be able to do that again’ or ‘Ronaldo won’t be able to score more goals again’, but every season they improve. It is incredible. I think people [in Portugal] need to appreciate that we have the best player in the world at the moment, along with Messi,” said the Portugal under 21 defender. He has also asked the fans not to compare Ronaldo with players like Figo or Rui Costa.

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