“What Rui Vitória told me impressed me a lot”

The moment of Rúben Dias at Benfica is now. On the day of 14^th anniversary of Estádio da Luz, the stage of his dreams, the centre-back made some revelations in an interview with BTV.

“My relationship with the coach is the relationship of a player who wants to learn a lot. All have a lot to teach, all the Rui Vitória, who has only won since he arrived at Benfica”, he said.

“Rui Vitória told me something interesting: to believe in myself, because I had not been waiting for this moment to be handed to me; I had been preparing myself for this moment to arrive, and the moment had arrived. That impressed me a lot”, confessed Rúben Dias.

But there are more confidences in the young centre-back's testimonial: on May 14th, 2005, when he saw Luisão score a goal that would give Benfica a national title and he felt embraced by the Benfica’s universe, it all began clear in Rúben's mind. 

“It was from that moment on that things have become more serious in my mind. When I saw that goal and environment, I felt that was what I wanted for my future. I liked it a lot and I was thrilled. My interest increased exponentially since then”, said the defender, who grew up "admiring Luisão” and “trying to learn from him”.

“Luisão is a huge example. I have always tried to learn from him and now to be able to have that learning process closer to him and to many other is something that makes me happy and even more willing to work. I'm learning with the best”, highlighted Rúben Dias.

Graduated from Caixa Futebol Campus, the defender tells that “it was not easy to get” where he's at. From now on I just have to look up ”, he assured, certain that “the work done was correct and it is to maintain”.

“I want more. The quick transformation from the moment it ceases to be a dream to become something normal is very important”, said the Under-21 Portuguese international.

Talking about the dressing room of Estádio da Luz... 

“It's something that sends shivers down my spine, every time I enter this dressing room. When I saw my name her for the first time, I felt I was on the right track. To be fortunate enough to be next to the skipper Luisão, whom I watched for several year, was amazing”, he said.

The first time that Rúben Dias got out of the tunnel at Luz to perform the warm-up period was also overwhelming “I was astonished, speechless … I was nervous, but then it was gone. From the moment I got on the pitch, I let loose. It was what I always wanted, in the stadium I always wanted to begin”, he concluded.

Text: João Sanches