Simão: Return of the Heroes, episode 5

SIMÃO

Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Members selected 20 of the Club's players who stood out during the 20 years of the new Cathedral, celebrated on October 25. Simão was one of those chosen for The Champions Wall at Estádio da Luz. 

FIRST DAY 

"It's impossible not to remember that moment, but first, we have to go back a bit to the previous stadium and that transition, which was really difficult because we didn't have the conditions to train. It was unforgettable to reach the day of the inauguration, which was so much desired by the players, fans and the club, because we had been following the construction and making visits to the stadium. The opening day was special for all of us."

BEST MOMENT 

"They were all important and this isn't a cliché, it's heartfelt. It's special to play in front of our fans, our supporters and with my teammates, just like being able to score goals, celebrate them with my teammates and be able to train, because we also trained here. It would be unfair of me to choose a goal or a stroke of genius, but perhaps I'll choose the 2004/05 Championship, where we lifted the championship trophy at the Estádio da Luz."

NOSTALGIA

"I miss the dressing room because that's where we win or lose games, smile, cry, and share stories with our friends. It ends up being a time we spend together for many hours because there's the pre-match, the match, and the post-match. I miss the dressing room and being with my teammates."

A STORY

"When we came to this stadium, there was a synthetic pitch behind the dressing room, and we went there to play footvolley. We'd stay there for an hour competing against each other and that was an important and fundamental part, because nobody wanted to lose, even in those games. Me, Petit, Nuno Gomes, Mantorras and other players were always 'kicked out' by coach José Antonio Camacho, because he also wanted to play with his coaching staff."

THE CHAMPIONS WALL

"For me, it's a great pride and a great honor to be among the 20 elected. I don't think the choice was easy for the Members, and that makes me very happy. Other players could also be included, but there can only be 20, and I'm delighted to be on the Wall, not least because there's still that link to the 20 on my jersey.  I'd like to thank the supporters for choosing me and for their support and trust, because my trademark wasn't just goals. It was also dedication, always wanting to help my teammates and the desire to improve. That's what built my connection with the fans, because they saw in me the link from the stands to the pitch. And I, like the rest of my teammates, wanted to give back to them."

MEMORY

"[Goal scored against Sporting on January 26, 2005] It was a fantastic goal right at the end of the game, worth the draw and the penalty shoot-out. I usually shoot with the inside of my foot, but in this game I already had an inguinal hernia. When I got hold of the ball, I thought, and this was all in a matter of seconds, that if I shot with the inside of my foot, the goalkeeper would get hold of the ball with his chest, because I wouldn't have enough strength to score. I then decided to put my instep up to give the ball more power, something I wasn't used to, and it ended up going into the net. I've heard stories from people who were at the game and told me that they left the stadium, heard the goal and went back. It was a spectacular goal in a memorable game, and from then on I played with an inguinal hernia until the end of the Championship. Fortunately, we ended up champions."