"There's a long way to go"

POST-MATCH

Di María was the first to react to the outcome of the Benfica-SC Braga (1-2) on matchday 17 of the Liga Betclic, played this Saturday, January 4.

In a post-match interview with BTV, the Benfica player gave his feelings on the outcome that had just taken place on the Estádio da Luz pitch, where the Reds conceded defeat for the first time this season.

"I think we didn't start the game well again. They gave us two goals very quickly, and we couldn't react. In the second half, I think we didn't start the game well again. They gave us two goals very quickly, and we couldn't react. In the second half we tried to react, we created chances, but we couldn't convert them," started by saying Di María.

In a competition in which the leaders have struggled to hold on to first place, the Argentine striker believes in a return to the top of the standings: "You can see that it's difficult, that any team can win, and... well, we have to keep working. There's still a long way to go, the second half of the season is about to start, so there's a lot to look forward to."

SC Braga will face Benfica again next Wednesday, January 8, in one of the semi-finals of the League Cup, a context that the world champion considers completely different: "Yes, yes, it's something else, it's 90 minutes and penalties, it's elimination. It's our first objective, to try to reach the final and win our first competition," concluded the Reds' number 11.