Graeme Souness: “Benfica is suffering”

The Scottish coach believes Benfica players will be “very nervous” in the match against Rangers; And that Estádio da Luz could turn against the team

Former Rangers and Benfica coach Graeme Souness, who now works as a television commentator in Great Britain, believes the Scottish side will be able to capitalize on the Reds' back-to-back defeats to Sporting and Porto. But he also adds that protesters in Glasgow may face an angry opponent.

“Rangers will play against a team under pressure. Have you seen their last two results? The week before they lost to Porto, they lost to Sporting. I know a little bit about what I'm talking about,” began the 70-year-old Scot, who coached Benfica in the 1997/98 seasons. And 1998/1999 Rangers, where he stood out as a player until his move to the team. Liverpool from 1986 to 1990.

Souness, who spoke to the Scottish press in Glasgow, began by explaining the meaning of the defeat that Benfica suffered in Porto: “Rangers and Celtic in Portuguese football are Porto and Benfica. Therefore, Benfica suffered a historic blow.”

The coach believes Benfica's players “will be under pressure” and, as such, “maybe it's the right time for Rangers” to play against the Reds.

“They will be very nervous. It's like Rangers lost 5-0 to Celtic. You can imagine what the fans will be like. Benfica fans are like Liverpool or Galatasaray fans. They love the team like crazy. When Benfica plays away from home, in only two games they don't “It has the majority of fans, along with Porto and Sporting. It's a giant club. Ten million live in Portugal and five million are Benfica fans. It's a great club with a great European history.”

Souness realizes that “Benfica must get back on the right track” and that “he will be hurt by the historic result against our greatest rivals.” “They will suffer,” he adds.

We don't know how the Eagles will perform. “He will, as such, be one of two Benfica players that Rangers will face. One is angry, full throttled, looking for a result, or one is feeling sorry for himself. “We will only know that in the match.”