"Full focus on 39th national title!"

THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVENTION

The President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Rui Costa, inaugurated on Wednesday, July 19, the new facilities of Casa Benfica Albufeira, and, at the commemorative dinner of the 28th anniversary of the Club's embassy, stressed the high sporting ambition of the eagles for the season ahead: "Total Focus on the 39th national title!"

Greeted by hundreds of Benfiquistas from Albufeira and the other Casas Benfica in the Algarve, namely Lagos, Portimão, Algoz, Olhão and Tavira, Rui Costa was clear about the goals and difficulties that the Eagles will face in the 2023/24 season when he addressed those present at the celebration of embassy no. 61.

"How good it is to be among Benfiquistas! How good it is to be in a Casa Benfica and feel this unparalleled Benfiquism. What pride! Congratulations to the Casa Benfica in Albufeira for all the good work it has done and for the inauguration that we wanted to do a long time ago. Congratulations to everyone! Thank you for coming and having sold out. What a great feeling of Benfiquism! My applause to all of you", began Rui Costa.

"Let me remind you that, when I was here the first time, I promised that I would return to make this party together, and here I am, also in the celebration of the 28 years of life of this Casa do Benfica that is marked today. I follow your work and I know the effort that the team led by Carlos Santos has dedicated over all these years to have a Casa Benfica that so worthily represents us in the Algarve", praised the President.

"As we saw last season, and always in Benfica's history, it is on the pitch and in the stands that titles are won. Benfiquistas are fundamental for us to achieve our goals. And the Casas do Benfica have been decisive in the permanent support of our athletes, in football and in other sports, throughout the country, abroad, around the world, whenever our Benfica plays. It's with this affection and this Benfica fervor that we're going to start winning again. And this season we have two league games here, in this Algarve. I am sure that our team will be immensely supported. I'm counting on everyone, and I'm sure they'll be there, tireless", stressed Rui Costa.

"The Casas do Benfica are strategic for the Club. That is why we want to create the conditions for more and more Casas do Benfica to develop and strengthen, because that is equivalent to strengthening Benfica. We want to make them grow even more in the future", anticipated the President of the Club.

"The conquest of the 38th national title was a great pride for our Benfica nation, but it already belongs to the past. It is in the Museum, with pride! Now, we are only interested in what we have ahead of us, the tests and challenges we have to face in this new season, without euphoria, without dazzle, without the conviction that we will have an easy life and that the victories are acquired. Quite the opposite! We have a lot of ambition, we want to do even more than last year, and that is why we are trying to create the conditions to make this possible, reinforcing the team where we consider it necessary and opportune, in a conscious and sustained investment. I repeat: in a conscious and sustained investment", stressed the President.

"But we will have to fight hard for every three points and every win. We will have to be humble, show character in the most challenging moments, and maintain immense ambition. At Benfica, we always want more, and no one can rest on past laurels. Structure, players, fans, we all have to keep that in mind. It is essential to start this season with the same ambitions and, above all, the same focus that led us to win our 38th national title. Only then will we be able to give you the joys you deserve so much. And that we all want", said Rui Costa.

"Benfiquistas, we all have a role in Benfica's present and future. It is for titles and trophies that we work daily. It is to make our Benfica great that we do not turn our backs on the fight. Total focus on the 39th national title, I emphasize, total focus on the 39th national title, on the challenges that are approaching, on the demands that we will have to overcome, together, in unity, to guarantee the victories and titles that we all want. I count on you, I count a lot on the Casas do Benfica. Long live Sport Lisboa e Benfica", concluded the President. 

STATEMENTS TO JOURNALISTS

"Rafa is staying. I spoke to him in England, as I naturally do. I speak to Rafa like all the players almost every day. We don't need to have meetings to be able to talk. We're counting on Rafa", he said.

"The market is open until August 31 and there is a lot that can happen until then in all clubs. Our work has been very well-thought-out and clarified between the technical team and all the football staff. Our focus is to work with those we are working with", he said, regarding possible movements in the constitution of the squad under Roger Schmidt.