Rui Vitória: "We enjoy the party atmosphere, but we go there to win"

In a five-match winning streak and no goals conceded, Benfica visits Montalegre, in Trás-os-Montes, at 8:45 pm on Wednesday, with the objective of going through to the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals.

Will you maintain the line of thought from the other Portuguese Cup matches, handing minutes to less used players?

We will make some changes. This has to do with the squad we have, which ensures a good response, knowing also that in December and January we will have at least 13 matches, but could be 14 or 16 depending on the performance we have. There are many games in a short period of time.

Benfica is in a five-match winning streak and no goals conceded. Do you consider criticism of your team unfair?

Any criticisms that may exist, exist here as they exist in any team. We are in a phase of recovery, which is based on the improvement of the confidence levels and fundamentally on the consistency and solidity of the team.

This match against Montalegre is different because Benfica travels to an area of the country where the team rarely plays. How does one prepare the team to face an opponent from the third tier?

For us, it is a huge pleasure when Benfica travels to those areas of the country that usually have less access to teams like ours. We go there with pleasure for the fact that we are representing Benfica. We enjoy the party atmosphere, but we go there to win. How do I prepare this match? In the same way. We have done the same work we do for any opponent.