Jorge Jesus: "Benfica is a club with unique conditions in the world"

Jorge Jesus was, this Wednesday, special guest of the "Dia de Cristina" premiere, the new program on TVI. 

Return to Benfica

"Many factors have contributed for my return. The pandemics, for sure, and the project introduced by the President. The project he has for Benfica is ambitious, a winning one, to change the sports paradigm of the last season. He was the only one capable of changing my mind. In my head I would stay another year in Brazil."

Different club… "much better"

"When I arrived at Benfica [in 2009/10], the club was in a certain position. Six years after, when I left, Benfica was in a very different position, and managed to keep its hegemony, winning titles with Rui Vitória and Bruno Lage. Now I’m arriving after losing the championship, the most important title for the supporters, and I found a whole different Benfica, a much better one. The working conditions, at Seixal and Estádio da Luz (the private area for players and their families, before and after the matches...), are unique. I don't think there's another team in the world like this. This should be highlighted, because it’s the work of many people from the President’s team." 

What is left to win?

"Benfica gave my first national title, that was my main goal when I arrived in 2009/10 (…) Now, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup are the only competitions left… But the ambition, right now, is to consolidate a team capable of reaching important finals, to do justice to the Club’s history."

Text: Filipa Fernandes Garcia and João Sanches