Luis Castro: Youth League Final strategy and Semedo-Benfica heartburn

The Benfica U19 and U23 coach explained why he chose Henrique Araujo over Luis Semedo in the Youth League final. Luis Castro confirmed that he had already planned to call up the Madeira striker if he was denied one of the three under-20 players initially called up. This is what happened to goalkeeper Samuel Soares, who was sent off in the semi-final against Juventus. He also revealed the strategy of the final match and the way in which he countered the physical strength of the Austrians. “Semedo didn’t absorb that well. It is normal for people not to feel happy when they are neglected in the final. I don’t want them to be happy when they are neglected either, they should be sad, as long as they are working in training. Evolution,” Luis Castro confirmed to BTV, emphasizing: “In the past, when there was a decision I didn’t like, I didn’t work at the limit. This week it surprised me.” Castro continued. “I don’t think I put a stone in my heart when I released Henrique and took Semedo away. Henrique played with Midtjylland and we won. I also had to put a stone in my heart when Semedo played with Sporting. Think to yourself Henrique didn’t like to lay off Sporting, but he was on the benches.” The bench supports Semedo and the other Semedos. Semedo did not like to be left out, but he supported and celebrated in the end. He had already decided that, if none of the 2002 players could play in the final, Henrique Araujo would be called up.” As he explained, the striker had “a very important role, as a midfielder, by closing in on a number six”.

As coach, Castro explained that the match that gave him “the most fun” was against Juventus, which was decided by penalties. “While we played 11 against 11, we showed a tremendous attacking ability. We scored two goals and created other chances. Like ten, we were perfect defensively”, recalls the coach born in Moreira de Conejos.

Then came the decisive match with Salzburg, which Benfica won 6-0. This is against the opponent who defeated AT. Madrid, in the semi-finals. “Not every team wins 5-0 against AT. Madrid, who was in a group with a Portuguese team. [FC Porto]that did not pass.”

Castro tells how the meeting with the Austrians was prepared. “We joined the six elements of the coaching team and spent two days watching the matches [do Salzburgo]. We chose to watch the games separately and reviewers had more trouble cutting and pasting images. The strategy was different from the matches with Juventus and Sporting.”

Then he explained: “We knew that Salzburg was very strong physically, and that they pressed very hard. We were also aware of the problems that we could have in the construction phase. The goal was to attract players to our midfield and strengthen our streak. On the other hand, it was We have three midfielders who are four, they do a lot of kilometers per game and they are physically strong. Our goal was to spin the ball fast, before they got to the physical confrontation.”