André Almeida: The return of the heroes, episode 7

ANDRÉ ALMEIDA

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. André Almeida was one of those chosen for The Champions Wall at Estádio da Luz. 

FIRST DAY

"I vaguely remember the first day, it must have been one of the pre-season training sessions in 2011/12. But I remember the first official match well. It was against Santa Clara, in the League Cup. We won 2-0, it was my first game at Estádio da Luz. It was in January, I can't pinpoint the day. It was a beautiful game, an indescribable feeling, I never thought I'd play for a club of this size. That day was the realization of a dream. My family and many friends were here. It was a game that probably didn't have that much importance because it was the initial stage of the League Cup, but for me, it was a crucial and very special game."

BEST MOMENT

"The moment we became four-time champions, and I saw the banner with the 'Tetra' and the rest of the team underneath it go up. It was the most impactful moment for me, because when I signed for Benfica, I remember talking to my father and saying that I was going to work hard to be part of the history of this club. It was a very special moment, the high point."

NOSTALGIA

"The atmosphere in the stadium was always incredible. The moment that stands out the most for me, after the fourth league title in a row, to get to know a bit about Estádio da Luz and the power it has, is a game in which we're losing 0-3 to Sporting, and the stadium won't let us down.We're seven or eight points behind and the Benfica fans are shouting 'I love Benfica'. If Luz is always like this, there's no one to hold us back."

A STORY

"Curious stories are more in the dressing room, jokes among the group. The preparation of Eliseu's motorcycle is probably the best story to tell, but there are some very nice stories on the pitch, and those are known to everyone. The involvement with the fans, the involvement of the teams I've had the privilege of playing for. A lot of good times, and that's what stays with me the most."

THE CHAMPIONS WALL 

"For me, it's an enormous pride and privilege. I feel privileged to be in that group of players, they're all stars and important names in the club's history."

MEMORY

"[Goal scored against Portimonense on September 8, 2017] Usually, when people talk to me in the street, it's the moment they ask the most: 'Was it on purpose, or was it by accident?' The reality is that, if I play on the left, I cut inside to cross with my right foot towards the goal. That's exactly what I tried to do, cross towards the goal so that there was a deflection or someone didn't touch the ball, and it went in on its own. Fortunately, the ball came out too high. In this case, at the right point to give Benfica three points. So, yes, it was a cross, but it was a great goal."