Benfica target another European scalp
Benfica face a gargantuan task in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday but after already knocking out Barcelona and Ajax, there is belief they can spring another surprise against Liverpool.
Many circled Benfica as the kindest opponent available when the draw was made in Nyon last month, with this the furthest the Portuguese club have gone in the Champions League in six years.
The last time Benfica made the semis, they went on to reach the final, in 1990, when a team coached by Sven-Goran Eriksson lost 1-0 to AC Milan and missed out on lifting their third European Cup.
That was the last time Benfica really belonged with Europe's elite and it would be the shock of the round if they were to upset Liverpool, who, along with Manchester City, are surely this year's tournament favourites.
"We know it's Liverpool, but we have to fight, we can play better," interim coach Nelson Verissimo said on Friday.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that he overthinks and comes up with "stupid tactics" in the Champions League but would not have it any other way as he prepares for Tuesday's quarter-final tie with Atletico Madrid.
Guardiola, a two-time winner of the competition as a manager with Barcelona, has not won the trophy in 11 years and his teams have often fallen in the knockout stages due to unexpected tactical tweaks and team selection which have caused his system to fail.
"In the Champions League I always overthink -- new tactics, tomorrow you will see a new one. I overthink a lot, that's why I have very good results in the Champions League," Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
"It would be boring if I always played the same way. If people think I play the same against Atletico and Liverpool, I don't like (that).
"The movements are different, the players are all different with different personalities. That's why I overthink and create stupid tactics. Tonight I take inspiration and I'm going to (come up with) incredible tactics tomorrow."
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