"We want to remain strong and evolve"

PREVIEW

Benfica's trip to Farense, this Saturday, November 2, at 6 pm, at Estádio Algarve, on matchday 10 of the Liga Betclic, is seen by the squad as "final". That's what coach Bruno Lage said at the press conference ahead of the match, held on Friday, November 1, at Benfica Campus.

What difficulties do you expect against Farense in a week marked by a lot of games in a short space of time?

Exactly, that's where the difficulty comes from, mainly because it's an opponent that has been growing, even before Tozé [Marreco], I had already seen one or two games, for example with FC Porto, away, in which they had performed well. In recent games those good performances have come, so that's where the difficulty comes from. It also comes from the fact that we're competing every two days. So what we're expecting is a difficult game. But above all, we set off with the same ambition as always. It's a final for us. We know it's very important to get points, to get the three points. So that's how we're going to approach it, expecting difficulties, both from our opponents and from the fact that we're playing every two days. But for us it's seen as a final, because it's very important to win the three points.

Rúben Amorim has already been made official as Manchester United's new manager. Do you think Rúben Amorim's departure will make Sporting weaker and open up an opportunity for Benfica to get closer to first place?

For us, the topic of the day is Sporting Clube Farense, which is what we have to worry about. It's the game we have tomorrow [Saturday, November 2] and, depending on that game and the games that may come up, it's about remaining strong and continuing to develop the way we have. That's what we have to worry about.

As for this game, he's expected to make a few more changes, taking into account the ones he made against Santa Clara and the return of Kökcü, Di María, Pavlidis, Tomás Araújo and Florentino, and because the schedule is going to get tighter as Bayern Munich and FC Porto follow. Will you have to put rotation aside?

The most important thing is the work we're doing with the team, not just with 11 players, and that comes with growth and the opportunities we've been given to train. It's true that some have played more than others, but that also means that those who have played less have also trained and are understanding and working on our ideas. Then it's a question of deciding which eleven is best for each moment, and the next moment is the game with Farense. We're fortunate to work with great players who easily understand our ideas, and then it's about finding the dynamic we want for each game. That's the way we see the game and the moment. That's why nothing will change tomorrow in terms of our ideas, understanding the best eleven and the best strategy for tomorrow's game.

In his first few games with you, Rollheiser was a starter, then he lost his role and, in the last three games, he hasn't left the bench. What's the plan for this player?

It's the same as the others. We can only pick 11 and play with five [substitutes]. We really liked his performances, but now he has to keep working and wait for a new opportunity, which could come tomorrow or the next day. We have a vast squad, with various solutions in different positions, and what the players have to do is keep working hard to get opportunities. So that's what I say to Rollheiser and all of them. In the beginning, Schjelderup rarely played and even had a game in which he wasn't called up. Now, he's had two or three breakthrough moments. It's the same with Beste, Tino [Florentino] started with us and hasn't played in the last two games. It's about us giving the players all the conditions to train and be well so that we can then make the decisions. So the plan isn't for anyone in particular, it's for the team.

Bearing in mind that the next league game is against FC Porto, these three points against Farense are all the more important to be able to go into that match with a chance of fighting for the position despite having a game in hand? Then, how do you keep the team focused on this next game when there are two important games coming up against Bayern Munich and FC Porto?

Try not to do what you did. Which is to say that the next game is with FC Porto... The next game is against Farense and to make that clear, is for them [the players] to feel that the next game is against Farense. Our subject at the moment is Sporting Clube Farense.