Scott Minto: Appreciate how big a club this is or you’ll be on your way out

Former Chelsea and Benfica defender, on the challenge facing the Blues tonight
One of the greatest ever players: Eusebio
Scott Minto27 March 2012

I know from personal experience how easy it can be to underestimate just how big Benfica are, but Chelsea will be making an even bigger mistake if they take their opponents too lightly in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final.

From the moment the two were paired together in the draw for the last eight, I have found myself looking back fondly on the time I spent at Portugal’s most revered football club.

I signed for Benfica after Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1997 and, while I knew they were a club of some stature, it was only after I moved there that I began to realise what an amazing institution I had joined.

Some people suggested that Chelsea have been given an easy path through to the semi-finals after avoiding Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich but they may not be saying that after tonight.

Benfica are massive. In European football, they are probably only below those three clubs as well as Manchester United and Liverpool.

When I was there they were certainly bigger than Chelsea and that probably remains the case now, even though the Blues have been such a force at home and abroad in recent years.

Everything about the club just gives off an amazing aura and you know that you’re part of something very special.

From the eagle flying around the stadium before the game, which still happens, to the amazing presence of one of the greatest ever players, Eusebio.

When I was there he worked as a coach for the strikers and acted as a figurehead. His English and my Portuguese weren’t that great so we didn’t have many conversations unfortunately, but in a way I didn’t have to.

Just seeing him there and what he meant to the fans was enough to know you were privileged to play for the same club.

I was told that 90 per cent of Portugal’s population follow Benfica and it certainly felt like it when I was there.

I remember my first training session with my new team-mates during pre-season and 5,000 turned up to watch us. A few weeks later we played a friendly at the old Estadio de Luz and the attendence was over 80,000.

On free weekends, I’d go away to the Algarve and everyone in the area seemed to support Benfica and wanted to talk to me. I used to feel really bad when things weren’t going well for the team because you’d walk into any shopping centre and people would be looking at you.

I’d feel terrible if we’d drawn a few games because that wasn’t good enough.

You had a real sense of responsibility. I wanted to win the next game even more so I could walk around with my head held high. I would imagine that same feeling persists with the current players and Chelsea will not only have to cope with their passion but also that of the crowd.

Obviously, I can only speak about the atmosphere at the old ground, which was very loud and intimidating. The noise and the intensity that the fans created was amazing. You’d walk out on to the pitch and the crowd would be right on top of you and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

I’d liken the crowd to the one Chelsea faced in Naples last month, when everyone was talking about how intimidating it was.

I’m not saying Chelsea were ruffled by it and that was the cause of their defeat there, but they will be up against another very vocal group of supporters.

If Chelsea take Benfica too lightly, it will be a similar result to the Napoli away game, but the difference will be they won’t be able to come back against them at Stamford Bridge.

If they lose 3-1 again or 2-0, I fancy Benfica to go through.

You have to remember that they scored goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford and didn’t lose either match against them in the group stages. Benfica will take great confidence from that.

If they do have a lead to take to London next week they will be looking good to progress because while they can still score goals at Stamford Bridge, they are much better than Napoli defensively.

Chelsea are used to playing big games and, while they’ve been inconsistent all season, this is not like the Premier League. You only have to peak for a couple of games in each round.

But they better be ready to play tonight or they may be on their way out.

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