"We want to reach the final"

INTERVIEW

In the run-up to the semi-final of the League Cup, to be played against SC Braga on Wednesday, January 8, at 7:45 pm, at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria, Aursnes looked ahead to the clash with the "Minhotos", in an interview conducted in partnership between the League and Benfica media (watch here on BPlay). 

Fredrik [Aursnes], hello. Thank you for taking the time to talk to you. We're just a few days away from the start of the League Cup Final Four. Benfica will be playing the second semi-final against SC Braga. What are your expectations for this game and for the Final Four in general?

FA: We're really looking forward to the game against SC Braga, who we also played a few days ago. We're looking forward to the game, and we want to reach the final.

From your experience, and in knockout games like this, what do you think makes the biggest difference on the pitch?

FA: There's always some tension, whoever loses is eliminated, and I think that's good, it's exciting. A competition like the [League] Cup is always nice to play in. Last year we also played in the semi-final, which we lost, but this year we want to reach the final.

To reach the final, what do you need to do differently this year?

FA: It's going to be a tough game against SC Braga, who we played last time out. SC Braga are a good team and are playing well. If you compare it to Estoril, who we played last year, we went to penalties. I hope we can play a better game against an opponent we played recently, and we have to learn from that game.

Last year, the competition started in the group stage. This year, it's starting with the knockout stage. Does it help to start with knockout matches straight away?

FA: I think it's also a bit interesting to have a group stage and then the first-placed team goes through to the next stage. But now that it's changed, I think it's something new, and it's also good that the games are really important, right from the first game. Of course every game is important, but I think both are good options, to be honest.

Now on to what's next. Does winning this competition in the middle of the season give you more pressure or motivation for the rest of the season?

FA: I think it will give us more motivation and a lot of energy if we manage to win the competition. I think it will certainly give us a lot of energy.

[Sílvio] First, it's a pleasure for all Portuguese football fans to have you here in our league. A player of great quality, with great professionalism. I know you're a central midfielder, but that means you can play midfielder, full-back, winger, you're good in all positions, so congratulations on the work you've done here at Benfica and in the Portuguese league. And what I have to ask of you is to pass on a message to the Benfica fans, who always support you in good times and bad.

FA: We love our fans and we really need them. The support they give us, home and away, is incredible. I'm sure it will be the same in Leiria, we're looking forward to playing there. I'm sure our fans will be there too, supporting us. We really need them, as always. I think they're always there for us, so we thank them very much.