"It's important for everyone to be ready to help the team at any time"

PREVIEW

Rigor, quality and ambition to win and crown a special night. This was the recipe Barreiro in the preview of the Benfica-Barcelona, on matchday 7 of the Champions League, that takes place this Tuesday, January 21, at Estádio da Luz.

Benfica and Barcelona are two very technical teams, who like to have the ball and go on the attack. Tomorrow [Tuesday, January 21] there's a weather element, possibly a rainy night and a very fast pitch. So what extra characteristics could be essential and decisive in this game?

It's not the first time there's been a game in the rain. So, in terms of temperature and weather, I don't think it will change much. It's going to be a game with a lot of quality, and we're going to do our best to get the three points here.

After the display you put in [against Famalicão], are you expecting it or do you already know if you'll start tomorrow [Tuesday, January 21]? And looking at the accounts, do you still believe in direct qualification, is that still Benfica's goal?

What I do know is that I'm always working hard to be ready for the games. Then it's the manager's decision and we have to respect that. On the second question, we're going into the game to win and to get another three points.

Bruno Lage has often said that Leandro [Barreiro] is an example, even in training, and after what he did against Famalicão, [Bruno Lage] said it again. How do you react to this praise from the coach? Does it give you more and more motivation to grab that place in the starting eleven?

It's always a positive thing to hear that the work a player does is seen, and that he also receives good praise. But the most important thing is to always keep working, in the strongest moments, in the toughest moments. I think it's always important for a player to know that he has the qualities, never give up and always give his all to help the team.

When you arrived at Benfica, you won a first-team place straight away, and then, with the arrival of coach Bruno Lage, he was no longer an option. Now, also due to your merit, you have the coach's trust again. How does it feel, with what you've achieved, to have the coach's confidence and know that you can play tomorrow [Tuesday, January 21] against Barcelona?

Having the coach's confidence is always important. Now, it's not something that a player has to play in every game. We have a lot of games, and it's important that everyone is ready to help the team at any time, as I was and as others are. When a player starts the game, it's always important to give your all, and when you come on, give your all, because the important thing is for the team to win and get the three points at the end of the game.

With regard to this game [against Barcelona] in particular, can you tell us a little about what Benfica are preparing for? Whether there will be a different role for you and your teammates in that game, and whether Benfica's approach will be different as they face the mighty Barcelona...

Unfortunately, I won't be able to say much about our tactics. You'll see tomorrow [Tuesday, January 21] on the pitch. What I can say is that we're ready for the game, to give our all and, with the support of the fans, to win the game, which is the most important thing.

When you arrived, there was a lot of talk about what your role would be at Benfica, whether you would be Florentino's competitor. You ended up playing alongside Florentino a lot, but when Bruno Lage arrived, the coach said you could play further forward, and you even did so in the last game [Famalicão]. In the end, which roles does Leandro [Barreiro] feel most comfortable playing? Do you feel more comfortable with this role that Bruno Lage has now given you??

I feel comfortable being able to help the team defend, but also being able to help attack. I like the term box to box, which explains very well how I see myself as a player. That's what I've been doing in recent games, sometimes a bit more defensive to help defend, and sometimes a bit more attacking to create spaces for teammates, or even to get into the box to be dangerous and score a goal.