"The more fans we have with us, the better"

PREVIEW

At 8 pm on Thursday, April 11, Benfica hosts Marseille in the 1st leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. Florentino launched the match, in which the fans will make the "difference in the game". 

"We're going to go all out, as we have in recent games, and give everything to win", said the eagles' number 61.

Playing at Estádio da Luz, Florentino pointed out that the Reds will go in focused to try for "the best possible result" and take the advantage into the second leg of the tie, to be played in Marseille (April 18).

"At home, we're going to take advantage of our fans, who will be on our side, pushing us forward. They'll definitely make a difference to our game," he said.

You're representing the team at this press conference, so what's the mood of the team on the eve of such an important match?

The team spirit is positive. The team is looking forward, to the goals they have. We know that the last game [against Sporting in the Liga Betclic] wasn't very positive, but there's no better opportunity than playing at home, in front of our fans, to continue playing the football we've been playing and get a very good result.

You've been a starter in recent games, and many Benfica fans think that Florentino should always have been chosen to play in midfield alongside João Neves. Do you feel more motivated by this?

My motivation is the same every day. In the morning, when I come to Benfica Campus, I always try to improve on what I did the day before. I don't see the fact that I've been playing more games lately as extra motivation, but with the same responsibility as at the start. Of course I'm happier, happier, to be playing, but if I was on the bench, by choice of the manager, I'd have to be on the bench, because he knows which players have to go in. Now I just have to enjoy the moment and do my best to help Benfica.

Is winning the Europa League realistically Benfica's only remaining goal? Knowing that there's still a chance in the league, albeit a slimmer one....

As you said, we still have a chance. Mathematically, we can still win the league, and we're going to believe it until the end, but our focus is on tomorrow's game [Thursday, April 11], which is against Marseille. We'll look at it step by step and keep our feet on the ground to try and achieve the best possible result in the competition. 

How do you view this season, individually and collectively, given the team's performances and results? What is your assessment?

I see a season where we started well, played good football and had good results. In some games, the detail was lacking, and we didn't have the luck we deserved, but I see constant growth on the part of the team and an incredible desire on the part of each player to want to develop and give their all to represent Sport Lisboa e Benfica. That's the mood we're in right now, to finish the season in the best possible way and achieve the goals we have.