Bah: "Our goal is to do better"

BTV STATEMENTS

After the first pre-season test, the training match against Southampton (0-2), Roger Schmidt's men returned to "hard work" on Thursday, July 13, during the training camp at St. George's Park, England, which runs until Saturday.

"It's been tough, lots of training, we've worked hard, but it's been a fantastic few days. We have new players and we welcomed them. It's good to see new faces, some players who have been out on loan as well. We have been working hard, but we are very happy and the atmosphere in the group is very good", he assured, leaving the assurance that he saw a Di María "very happy to return to Benfica": "Everyone knows that!"

"Jurásek is a great friend, a fantastic player, he will fit very well with the way the coach wants to play. He is also a great person. I'm also happy about Köckü's arrival, because I played against him four times in the same season [when I was at Slavia Prague in 2021/22, in Conference League matches], he's a fantastic player. I am very happy with the new signings we have so far, and they will help the team", he praised.

"João Victor played very well, he developed very well at Nantes. Not only João Victor, many players impressed me yesterday [in the training match against Southampton]. We have a fantastic group, with very good players. We are enjoying training because the quality is very good.", he said, adding: "I'm not the only right-back in the group, Aursnes played very well in the position last year and João Victor was very good, he showed he can do it. We have a lot of competition."

Stressing that the goal is "to do better than last year", Bah stressed that the group "hopes to have a very good season".

And he ended the conversation with journalists before the morning training session in England with the feeling that invades him for being at Benfica and in Lisbon. "I love it, my family is happy, I enjoy every moment. Let's hope the season will be as good as the last one", he finished.