Benfica out to exorcise ghost of finals past Jesus
Jesus has steered Benfica to the Portuguese league title, victory in the League Cup.
TURIN (AFP) - Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has called on his players to lay the ghost of an astonishing seven successive defeats in European finals to rest when they face Sevilla in Wednesday s Europa League final.
Jesus has steered Benfica to the Portuguese league title, victory in the League Cup and a May 18 final in the Portuguese Cup to put the lisbon side within sight of an historic quadruple haul of trophies.
But although mastering one final so far this season - last week s win against Rio Ave in the League Cup - has given his side an element of serenity, Jesus knows that achievement could mean little if they don t shake off a 52-year-old hoodoo.
Since winning a second consecutive European Cup in 1962, Benfica have stumbled at the last hurdle in seven further European finals -- five times in the European Cup, once in the UEFA Cup (1983) and once in its successor, the Europa League (2013).
The memory of last year s defeat to Chelsea in Amsterdam has been partly erased by domestic achievements this campaign.
But despite claiming most of his players are blissfully ignorant of the club s chequered European history, Jesus knows it s time to set the record straight.
"I don t think we can talk about any kind of curse," Jesus told reporters at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday.
"Most of the players don t even know about these statistics. It s folklore.
"In saying that, it s something that motivates us further and gives us strength.
"One day this streak is going to be broken. We have to put the ghost to rest. Let s hope it is tomorrow."
- Nervous -
Benfica captain Luisao has led by example in the Portuguese giants route to the final, notably heading off the line when keeper Jan Oblak was stranded to help secure a scoreless draw in the decisive second leg of their semi-final tie away to Juventus.
Luisao admits to having pre-match butterflies, but the sour taste of last year s defeat has the towering Brazilian centre-back relishing a different outcome.
"We re all feeling a little nervous but that is a good sign, it means we re up for the challenge and motivated to get the match started," said Luisao.
"Last year we weren t seen as favourites. And although this year people see us as favourites from the outside, both sides have gone through a lot to make it to the final.
"We ve been tested, but we re all feeling comfortable and ready to give everything. I know what it feels like to win a final (domestic) with Benfica, and I d be more than happy to experience that tomorrow.
"We believe that we can win."
Spanish striker Rodrigo, meanwhile, warned of Sevilla s potency -- and against any feeling that his side s successes so far this season means they can rest on their laurels.
"Of course being here, after wining two trophies, makes us feel more relaxed about things. But tomorrow is a new game, a new final. We start from zero," said Rodrigo.
"Sevilla are here because they deserve to be. No one gets to a final by luck. They have great players so it s going to be a very interesting game, but we ll be doing our best to make sure we finally get our hands on the trophy."
