"When the game is over, and we applaud the fans, it's always a source of pride"

INTERVIEW WITH UEFA

João Neves' rise from the youth teams to the Benfica first team and the feeling he gets from defending the club of his heart at the highest level, particularly in the Champions League, were central themes in his interview with UEFA. 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AT BENFICA

"I started at CFT do Algarve [in Faro], spent five years there and, when I turned 12, I came to Benfica Campus with the idea of becoming a professional footballer. This process has brought me friends and life goals. It has made me a non-conformist person with a Benfica mystique."

RISE TO THE FIRST TEAM

"My arrival in the first team was different because of the number of options there were and there are now. I think I made the most of it. It was a training session or two that I did while the first-team players were at the World Cup, and I think I caught the coach's eye. The debut will always be a milestone in my life. Despite the defeat  [0-1 against Sevilla in a friendly match on December 11, 2022], it was one of the happiest days I've had at Benfica. That was the day I achieved my first goal, which was to make my first team debut. Since then, it's been going really well, my teammates are also super welcoming and super nice when it comes to relaxing, and understanding what they have to do, and I'm grateful to them."

PLAYER WHO WANTS THE BALL

"I like to feel the ball a lot and do simple things, I think that's what sets me apart. Sometimes playing simply is the right thing to do."

PLAYING AT THE CATHEDRAL

"When I'm inside, even though they're very loud, the applause and chants are almost inaudible. I take my mind off what's around me and concentrate on what's on the pitch. But when the game is over, and we applaud the fans, it's always a source of pride. It's great to know that the fans are with me and the team."

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND THINKING GAME BY GAME

"This competition is the best in the world, one of our goals. Although we have many long-term goals, it's each match that we think about. Get the best possible results in every game so that the long-term goal can be achieved."