"Gaining an advantage was the first objective": the players' reaction

Otamendi, Marcos Leonardo and Kökcü were Benfica's spokespeople after the 2-1 win against Toulouse in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs that took place on Thursday, February 15 at the Estádio da Luz. 

OTAMENDI

"We can't relax at any time"

"It's a shame we conceded the goal. We deserved the win, but we need to increase our intensity. In the first half we were very comfortable, but I think we need to show more intensity when it comes to attacking. Defensively we weren't conceding, and then in the second half we came in with a different mentality and conceded a goal. It's something we have to put right because, unfortunately, we're conceding goals. We have to improve that during the week. In the Europa League, we can't relax at any time. We'll try to do things better, to raise our collective level. Today [Thursday, February 15], it was important to win, that was the first objective. If we had won with a bigger lead, it would have been better, but the important thing is that we're one goal ahead."

MARCOS LEONARDO

"Congratulations to the whole team for the commitment"

"It's a different competition, it's a knockout. There are two very decisive games. I was happy to concede that penalty [which made it 2-1], but above all for the victory, which was very difficult. I'd like to thank and congratulate the whole team for their commitment and for not giving up until the last minute. The manager asked me to attack all along the line and not give up, and that's what I did. [2nd leg] I'm expecting a very difficult game, just like the game here at home, but we're going there to win and qualify. Gaining an advantage in a tie is very important, but we only have a one-goal lead, and we can't rest. We have to go in strong and focused to qualify. There are no longer any weak teams these days, Toulouse is a well-trained team, they made it very difficult for us, but as the game went on we improved."

KÖKCÜ

"It was a fair result"

"It wasn't any harder than I expected. If you play at European level, every game is tough. We expected that. It was a good game and, in the end, I think it was a fair result. Playing at home, we have to win every match. We had the ball the whole game, they only created danger on the counter-attack. It was deserved, but it was difficult. We created a lot, but we weren't effective enough in the final third, so it's always difficult to score goals. It's a European game, they [Toulouse] are going to give everything, they're a quality team, and we knew that. We had to give more in the second half, and we did. We're happy with the result. [2nd leg] I expect the same, a tough game, they're playing at home. We always try to play at our best. We know we have quality and that we can win."