“React the Benfica way, in front of our fans"

PREVIEW

With the "Clássico" prepared in the "best possible way", as Bruno Lage said in his preview of the game against FC Porto, Benfica are "confident" going into matchday 11 of the Liga Betclic, scheduled for this Sunday, November 10, at 8:45 pm, at Estádio da Luz.

How is the team recovering after a European match midweek and what do you expect tomorrow [Sunday, November 10] against FC Porto at Estádio da Luz?

The team has done the normal recovery and preparation work, so I feel them confident, playing at home, against a difficult opponent, but the most important thing is what we control, which is our preparation. We understand very well the opponent we're up against, it's a team with a good dynamic, often with wingers on the inside, wingers on the outside, full-backs also on the inside and outside, sometimes with a three-man formation in the middle, with midfielders through the corridors too... That's completely identified, now it's about knowing what we have to do defensively and offensively. We've prepared for the game in the best way possible over the last two days, and the most important thing is that tomorrow [Sunday, November 10] we react the Benfica way, in front of our fans, in a game in which everyone wants to take part and give, not a good response, but a good display and a good win.

After the game in Munich, in which Bruno Lage himself said that things didn't work out the way he wanted them to, do you plan to continue with three center-backs in potential big games, such as the one against FC Porto, or, on the other hand, it's a Benfica that's going to return more to its previous image?

The Munich game is in the past and it's not important to look back, it's important to look forward. The question of the three center-backs is a false one, because what's most important are the dynamics that the team puts on the pitch, whatever the system. So for us tomorrow [Sunday, November 10], what we have to do - and we have to prepare in the best way - is to realize that when we don't have the ball, we all have to defend, and when we have the ball, we all have to attack. That's the most important thing.

Vítor Bruno said it was important to manage what the FC Porto players are feeling. There's a feeling of anger and injustice about the Europa League game [Lazio], where they felt they could have won. Is it possible to use this anger on the part of FC Porto to hurt their opponents and whether, on your side, you felt anger or a sense of injustice from your players in the locker room because they felt they could have won in Munich?

I look more at the second part. I think that's a great question. It's about looking at ourselves. It doesn't make me happy, because we lost the game, but looking at the players' feelings, and at the end, when I spoke to them immediately after the referee's whistle and when we went back to the dressing room, talking to the players and feeling that, feeling that we could have done more against Bayern Munich. That really gives us hope that tomorrow [Sunday, November 10] we can play a great game, that's the feeling. I saw that in the players' eyes; against Bayern Munich, after what we did in the Champions League, feeling after the game that we could have done more, that's the energy we have to put into tomorrow's game [Sunday, November 10]. To look at ourselves, to feel that we can do more, especially in attack, and that's what we're aiming for tomorrow.

Does it worry you in particular, or have you taken any care even in the video analysis and the work on the pitch, the presence of a player like Samu, very strong when attacking the space, strong in duels with defenders? There was any special care taken with the way you're going to put the defense on the pitch, the space between goalkeeper and defense, even Trubin's own work in this game?

I'm always worried about the way and the space I have to have the ball and to play offensively, that's the way I always work. I always look at the game offensively. When I analyze the opponent, I see what the spaces are, the opportunities I'm going to have, first define the offensive strategy very well, and then understand that idea, in offensive terms, the dynamics of our system, of our players, how to defend a certain opponent. I've already told you about FC Porto, they have very interesting characteristics, a very strong striker in the box, very good dynamics, both from the wings, especially the right wing; eventually, we can expect Pepê to come inside and try to play between the lines, take advantage of that space in front of our center-backs to create a square with the attacking midfielder, to have Galeno a little more open. It's not just about looking at the game, it's about looking at the team's dynamic. Sometimes the midfielders organize on the outside, sometimes the full-backs on the inside, between the lines. What concerns us the most is what we have to do with the ball, and then understanding how FC Porto position themselves and how to press.

António Simões said that Benfica showed up in Munich in such a small size that it hurts the Club's history and that, as a result, the team didn't arrive at the "clássico" with maximum confidence. How do you take these comments from one of the Club's greatest legends?

I didn't want to go back to the Bayern game, because we've already taken responsibility and we all felt that we could have done better, especially in attack. I'm going to tell you this because I have a very good relationship with António Simões. We speak often, we text a lot and so what I have to say is that I respect Mr. António Simões a lot. I know what he means to Benfica, what he did both as a player in the 60s and as a director in the late 90s and early 2000s. So I know very well what Mr. António Simões means to Benfica, and all I have to do is respect him, listen, accept, learn and plan for the future, which is tomorrow's game [Sunday]. That's the most important thing. 

Is Alexander Bah recovered and able to play? I also wanted you to comment on the news that Beste might want to leave in January. There's also news about Otamendi leaving for River Plate...

Regarding Bah, he trained well, he's available for the game. Secondly, regarding Beste, I feel the player is very focused on Benfica. He's perfectly adapted. If you remember, in my first or second speech, I think after the game with Santa Clara or Red Star, there was a question about this situation. I hadn't chosen the squad, the previous coach had chosen some of the players. I made a point of saying publicly, and then immediately to the players, that there are no Roger Schmidt players or Bruno Lage players. There are Benfica players. I feel the player is well, happy, fully integrated, especially now that the cold weather has arrived. He's performing well, whether he's starting or coming off the bench, with assists and goals. So I feel he's completely integrated into the team. Regarding Nico [Otamendi], maybe I'd answer differently. We feel enormous pride when we hear about Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, Ederson, Rúben Dias, in other words, several players who were here at youth level, some of whom worked with me, represented Benfica's first team, and say that one day they would like to return to Benfica. That's something we have to accept. One day he'll want to return to his country [Argentina], but we'll never know what that day is. What do I see? I see him completely focused on training, even today [Saturday, November 9] he prepared in the best possible way. He's an example to the younger players, the way he prepares and trains. I see him focused on Benfica and tomorrow's game [Sunday, November 10].

Given the history of the league this season, and Benfica's point disadvantage at the moment, do you think this game will be decisive? We're a third of the way through the league, but looking ahead, Sporting haven't lost a game, and the only game FC Porto have lost was against a big team. And there's a clash between the big teams here...

Also bear in mind that, despite being a third of the way through, we still have a game to play [Nacional-Benfica, matchday 8]. I don't think any game is decisive on matchday 10. It's important, and it's that degree of importance that we have to bring to the game, and tomorrow [November 10] in front of our fans play a great game. That's what we're excited about, looking ahead to tomorrow's game [Sunday, November 10], playing well, creating chances, scoring goals and winning the three points. That's the most important thing. [Sunday, November 10].

I'd like to ask you if what happened at the [press] conference in Munich has weakened your image before the players and the fans?

I understand your question, but for me it's a non-issue. When I arrived at Benfica, when I was introduced to the people in the structure and when I realized that Ricardo was still the press officer, I was happy, because I see an excellent professional, a very dedicated person with whom I have a very good relationship. I've worked with him, just as I've worked with Nuno Farinha in the past. However, I've also worked with other press officers in England and Brazil. What was important about our re-encounter was that we aligned our ideas. Ricardo does the work of a press officer, he knows how I like to receive information, it's part of his job, he knows me perfectly. From then on, it's no longer his job, it's my voice, my head, coming here, talking to you, deciding the eleven, deciding the strategy, deciding the substitutions. That's my way of leading, not saying that I'm in charge or that I'm not, I like to lead by the example, by work and by competence. It's not a matter for us, what matters is talking about tomorrow's game [Sunday, November 10], because the players are the protagonists and not what happened at the conference.