"I will always enter determined to help Benfica and make the fans happy"

BPLAY INTERVIEW

On August 19, 2023, Neres wrote another beautiful page of his own history with the club, at Estádio da Luz. Launched at 69' in the clash against Estrela da Amadora, made two clutch assists and helped the team grabbing an important win in Matchday 2 of the Liga Betclic, in his 50th official match with the red jersey.

"It’s a tremendous honor," says the Brazilian, in an interview with BPlay, about the mark achieved with the club in just one year. Neres' secrets to power the collective and to decide? "A lot of focus, of hard work too, to stay focused regardless of how long I play. Have your head in place and play a good role, "assumes the 7 of the eagles, stating a certainty for the future: "You can expect the same focus as always, a lot of will. Regardless of how many minutes I play, I will enter determined to help Benfica and make the fans happy."

It has been a little over a year since you arrived to shake Benfica’s attack and you already reached the mark of 50 games with the red jersey, against Estrela da Amadora, having still been elected the man of the match. What does it mean to you?

It represents a lot. It is a tremendous honor to complete 50 games in such a short time with Benfica’s giant jersey and it is a source of great pride for me.

In that game you touched the ball every minute on the field, with 95% passing accuracy, and providing two assists in three successful dribbles. You entered the game like a wrecking ball. How do you do that?

I think it's a lot of focus, of hard work too, to stay focused regardless of how long I play. Have your head in place and play a good role 

Do you realize it all seems easy?

It wasn’t easy... If it was easy, I could have shot and scored [laughs].

The official debut began in exactly the same way: with two assists in the victory, at home, against Midtjylland. Do you still remember that moment?

It was a game where I was very focused. I needed to give an answer at home, so I entered very focused, very determined to play a good game, and I think that the Midtjylland game was one of the best, if not the best game of my career.

And now, after 50 games, how was it like to feel the support of the fans, to hear them shout "Neres" and bow to you every time you dribble the opponents?

An incredible feeling, coming back to our stadium with a win and a good game. There is no better felling. 

Next up is the trip to Barcelos to face Gil Vicente. What are the expectations?

We know that it is not easy to play there, it is a very difficult game, against very good team, but we will face it the same way, the same way we face all games, to win.

What can we still expect from Neres?

You can expect the same focus as always, a lot of will. Regardless of how many minutes I play, I will enter determined to help Benfica and make the fans happy.