"The energy coming from the bench helped settle the game"

POST-MATCH

Having achieved the goal of reaching the final four of the League Cup after Benfica's 3-0 win over Santa Clara on Wednesday night, October 30, Bruno Lage praised the teamwork of the eagles.

The coach considered that the Reds had a good start to the game, against a rival that “closed up very well”. “[Santa Clara] didn't give us the space we wanted. Even so, we could have scored in one situation or another in the first half,” he said in a flash interview with Sport TV.

In a second half that he considered “practically” Benfica's, the coach highlighted the substitutions. "The energy coming from the bench helped settle things. We had several chances to score. One of many goals achieved, and the most important thing is to be in the final four," he said. 

HOW TO UNLOCK THE GAME

"It was the same way we've been doing since I got here, playing as a team, trying to break down the opposition. I think we made a very good start to the game. After 2 minutes, we had a very clear chance to score. Then I remember perfectly Arthur's [Cabral] chance, another attacking moment or two worthy of note, and then, once again, getting players from the bench with enormous talent and a huge desire to help the display and the result. We made some changes in terms of positioning, creating different dynamics in the corridors, and that's how it went. We won, I think it's a fair victory and the goal we were aiming for was to go on and be in the final four."

BRACE AND ASSIST FROM PAVLIDIS

"[Pavlidis: response to some criticism?] no, he doesn't have to respond to criticism. He has to make his contribution to the team. Today [Wednesday, October 30], his contribution to the team was more visible, in statistical terms: he added two more goals and an assist. But his contribution has been very important, as has the contribution of the other forwards. The movements, the counter-movements, are fundamental to, for example, breaking down a well-organized line of five, as Santa Clara's was. That's why everyone's contribution is important and, playing every three days, with five substitutions, this is fundamental. It's fundamental for the team that comes in, to come in with energy and realize that sometimes you can't score straight away, and you have to keep circulating the ball, trying to break down the opposition and make them run. Then, having the talent that we have. Regardless of who it is, to come off the bench and help with the result. That's why I'm happy for him, but in terms of the specific tasks of a winger - apart from goals and assists, which are of course important - he has to continue to perform the way I want him to in other areas."

COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT

"[Managing Di María?] He was questioned for playing 90 [minutes] and now he's being questioned for playing 60 or 70 [minutes]. The most important thing is his performance and that of the others, Di María has been coming off, just like other players have been coming on and off. There's no particular management because it's Di María, there's a collective management that has to be done."

TWO FORWARD SYSTEM AND HALF-TIME SUBSTITUTIONS

"[Renato Sanches?] On the subject, there is no physical problem, but there is the progression in terms of minutes and volume of play that we have to make with some players. Renato [Sanches] - I think, at least in my period - played 45 minutes for the first time. He performed well, as did Zeki [Amdouni], and we knew we had to control certain players. Then that's what we tried to do, to create dynamics, which I think were very visible, both on the right and on the left. Putting one more man in each corridor to try to unblock the line of five, showing up with the sixth man to look for more space between the defenders, and I think we did that. I understand the question of the system, but he [Pavlidis] has practically taken Aktür's [Aktürkoğlu] position. They are players with different characteristics. Now, he's a player who searches a lot and wears himself out a lot, both when he moves deep and when he looks to play between the lines. He also looks for moves out wide, he's very generous defensively, and that's his contribution. The important thing is what I've always said - because I think Zeki [Amdouni] can also play this role up front - that we have players with different profiles. One who is more of an area player, a header, another who is more mobile, and one who is also very strong at attacking space from deep and quick in transition. That's what we have to have, I like to have three strikers like that, and then I manage it according to what I think is the game and the moment of each game."