"The important thing is to keep a cool head, have a winning mentality and play a good match"

PREVIEW

In search of a two-goal win over Salzburg, a scenario that ensures Benfica's presence in the Europa League play-offs, Otamendi guarantees that the squad is "united" to achieve this goal on Tuesday, December 12. 

Given that Benfica has to win by two goals, will the team give everything from the first minute, or will some patience be required?

We have to manage the match, we have 90 minutes to win by two goals and stay in the European competition. The important thing is to keep a cool head, have a winning mentality and try to have a good game. Tomorrow [Tuesday], we'll try to do things the right way.

Salzburg has an average age of 22. Benfica, on the other hand, have more experienced players. How can you use that to your advantage?

Sometimes experience helps. They managed to win against us as visitors. Today, we're looking for an away win and a two-goal difference to stay in European competition. They're a young team, but with intensity, strength and great players that we'll try to break down. We have to play our game, and we have to think more about our game, about doing it well in general, in order to get the win we need.

Without António Silva, you could keep your position in the center of defense if, for example, Tomás Araújo comes on, or play on the right if Morato plays next to you. Does that make you uncomfortable? Do you consider António Silva's absence to be a problem for you?

António [Silva] won't be there. Obviously, he's an important player for the group, but we're working on it. Tomás [Araújo] has been doing well, but it will be the coach's decision. Whoever plays, we have to help him, support him and give him the peace of mind he needs. Generally speaking, you have to be prepared for a tough match in which it will be important to make a difference if you want to stay in European competition.

As captain, how did you feel about the incidents that happened against Farense? Was it an unfair situation for the coach?

Yes, it's sad, because you have to avoid these kinds of actions. You have to be there in good times and bad. We won the Super Cup, we're one point off the lead [in the league] and we're still in two other domestic competitions [Portuguese Cup and League Cup]. With Farense, maybe the balls didn't go in as much as they did last season, but the basis is work. We have to keep our minds focused on our soccer and, sometimes, maybe go back to the DNA of last season. Every match we have to improve, and that's done through hard work. You improve by being positive in good times and bad. We have to try to get people involved with us and try to get back to the mechanisms and the game we used to have. Sometimes things don't go our way, but we have to insist and have the winning mentality that the players and squad need. We'll try to finish the year in the best possible way, winning in different competitions.