Otamendi: "Play the best way to win"

PREVIEW

It is against FC Midtjylland, this Tuesday, August 2, at 8 pm, at Estádio da Luz, that Benfica faces its first official match of the 2022/23 season, in the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League. In a press conference at Benfica Campus, Otamendi previewed the match. 

Considering Benfica's pre-season displays and results, do you think the team goes into the first official match of the season with good feelings?

Yes. Starting the pre-season well is always important, it gives confidence. Tomorrow [Tuesday] starts the most important and beautiful thing, the official matches. It is important for us, we play at home, against a strong rival, and we will give our best for the victory.

A new coach brings new ideas, and in the last few matches Benfica has put more pressure on the ball carrier. These new ideas and approaches give you a new spirit?

Obviously, every coach has new ideas. We started the season with a different idea, of high pressure. With the basis of the training and listening to the coach we started to grasp his ideas. It's the beginning of the season, there's still a lot ahead, but the idea is in the squad and is identified. We are going to play the best way to win.

Getting into the Champions League is one of Benfica's main goals this season. Do you feel more pressured facing a more accessible opponent?

No. Benfica forces us to look at all competitions the same way. The first match is at home, we will try to get the victory, playing a good match and implementing what we trained during the whole pre-season. We hope it will be an important start for Benfica to qualify for the Champions League.