The Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal) is arguably the second most important title (The League is first) to win in Portugal. There is something about going through a tournament all season long which involves teams from the first four divisions within Portugal that brings a sense of pride and accomplishment to the winning team as being the absolute "Best Team In Portugal."
This year Vitória de Guimarães will face Benfica at Estádio Nacional, Jamor in Lisbon, Portugal. The final has taken place at this venue since 1946 with the exception of the 1961 where it took place near Porto to accommodate the Minho teams FC Porto and Leixões.
Benfica is the most successful team in this tournament winning 24 Portuguese Cups (winning their first in 1939). Although, Benfica has 8 more titles then FC Porto. Benfica have not won this tournament since 2004 defeating FC Porto in extra time 2-1.
Benfica need to win this year's Portuguese Cup for the following reasons:
1) It has been 9 years since we last won it. (Porto x 4, Sporting x2, Serubal x 1, Academica x 1)
2) If Benfica lose, then the 2012/13 season will go down as "The Year Benfica Choked" giving momentum to our rivals FC Porto, and Sporting.
3) If Jorge Jesus wants any sort of credit as an accomplished coach in Europe and if he wants to gain some of the points back that he lost with the fans, they will win
4) The Players worked hard this year and deserve a championship
5) The fans deserve to celebrate a victory
Although some regard the 2012/13 season as a failure for Benfica, (Losing the league a third straight year to FC Porto, and allowing Chelsea to score in the 93" of the European Cup Final) many feel that if Benfica are victorious this Sunday it will not be a total bust. This is especially true if you are Benfica coach Jorge Jesus. Benfica's President LFV spoke out the day after Benfica's Europa League Cup Final loss to Chelsea saying that " Jorge Jesus is not going anywhere" and will remain at the helm for the next 2 seasons.
As a Benfica soçio, I feel that I am not the only one in favour of JJ's departure. He will go down as one of Benfica's most successful coaches who really at the end of the day did not win much besides the 2009/10 season. He may redeem himself somewhat if Benfica are victorious this Sunday at the Jamor but it is very frustrating for the fans and for the Benfica organisation to lose 2 titles in extra time within 96 hours of each other.
This Sunday I hope that all of the fans can try to forget about the disappointing defeats throughout this season. Let's put on our jersey with pride and support this team because we are all down and out. We need something to celebrate and we need Benfica to bring back this titles that we have not seen in 9 years.
JJ has the tendency to experiment on big games by changing the squad line-up. For example; one can argue that the Europa Cup Final vs.Chelsea, Benfica did not start their best 11. Had Lima started over Rodrigo perhaps the game would of gone differently? On Paper Lima has scored more goals then Rodrigo. Perhaps Benfica would not of struggled the way that they did in the first half of that game. Europe has come and gone and right now the Portuguese Cup is what is in front of us.
My biggest concern is that JJ may underestimate this Vitória de Guimarães squad and may want to experiment. I say if he wants the win he must stay conservative and play Benfica's best 11.
Artur, Maxi, Luisao, Garay (if he's not hurt), Melga, Matic, Enzo, Salvio, Gaitan, Lima, Cardozo.
At some point have Aimar make an appearance as a proper send off because we know that he's leaving. Give some minutes to Almeida and Gomes so that they can experience playing in a championship game at Benfica and as the saying goes, "Bob is your Uncle."
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