Jardel: "I got goose bumps"

With an outstanding performance, Jardel completed 200 matches for Benfica on the last Saturday, in the 5-1 win over Rio Ave, having scored the first goal from the Eagles and having made the assist for the third.

In an interview with BTV, the centre-back went through several moments of his journey at the Club to which he is "in love".

200 MATCHES
"It is a very good feeling, that makes me go back in time, when I was a child and I dreamt of becoming a player. Several emotions and not even in my wildest dreams I thought about making 200 matches for Benfica. It is the best Portuguese club and one of the best in Europe. I got goose bumps and I hope to play many more matches for this club by which I am in love."

THE DEBUT
"The first match was against Aves… When I found out Benfica was interested in signing me, it was a great joy for me and for my family. I was welcomed by my teammates, by the Brazilians… Luisão, our captain. That helped in my debut. It is a great responsibility to defend this jersey. I was happy because we managed to win. It was for the Portuguese Cup."

MATCH 50 AGAINST OLHANENSE
"I had a spell at Olhanense, where I was happy and made a lot of friends. It was the return to a previous home in the match 50. It was important, it was good, defending the colors of Benfica. It was a great joy."

THE NICKNAME "THE WARRIOR OF LUZ"
"That match [match number 76] was a war. I had a very strong collision, I was not aware of the severity of the cut. We won the match, it was a tight game. Markovic scored a great goal in which he lobbed Douglas. At half-time, I went to the mirror to see the cut and they did not let me see it because if I saw the severity of the cut, possibly I would not go back. They did not let me see it and I went back. It wouldn’t stop bleeding, but I played the entire match.”

MATCH 109 AGAINST SPORTING AND THE EQUALIZER
"It was a very important goal. It was more important than pretty. If our rivals got the win, they would close the gap. In the dying moments, at 90’+4’, I got the equalizer [at Alvalade], it gave us even more confidence and it put our rivals off."

WINNING THE LEAGUE CUP AGAINST MARÍTIMO IN THE MATCH 125
"An important match, a final that we managed to win. I could not remember the first goal play. It was a set piece, an assist for Jonas, that ended up scoring the first goal.   The important was we got the win and another trophy for our Benfica."

JERSEY ALLUDING TO THE 200 MATCHES WITH AN EAGLE ON HIS CHEST
"Thank you very much! I am very happy to have completed 200 matches for Benfica. It is a dream come true, a childhood dream and I hope to make many more matches with this Sacred Mantle. I would like to thank my teammate, the coaches and the president, who is always on our side…"

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: SL Benfica