"I'm very proud to work with my players"

POST-MATCH

Bruno Lage analyzed Benfica-Sporting (1-3, after extratime), the Portuguese Cup final match that took place this Sunday, May 25, at the Estadio Nacional, considering that the Eagles were stronger during regulation time plus the 9 minutes and 30 seconds of the 10-minute compensation period.

SUPERIORITY UNTIL THE FINAL 30 SECONDS OF STOPPAGE TIME

"First of all, a word for our fans. Fantastic support from start to finish, and what we wanted most of all was to give this trophy to our fans for their support throughout the season. Then, once again, I'd like to say that I'm proud of my players. They have fulfilled everything we had planned and outlined to the letter, and I'm extremely proud to coach this team. And secondly, to say that that's 45 plus 45, plus the 9 minutes and 30 seconds, in which we were clearly the best team on the pitch. We allowed Sporting a transition that led to the equalizer. I think we created several chances. And then I didn't want to, because two days ago I saw the referee's [press] conference... He made a point of saying that the most important thing was for us to look at our work and not talk about the referee, but today I have to say that he made a mistake. If you want to stick to the criterion of giving Samuel [Dahl] a yellow, you have to stick to that criterion throughout the game. I think there's clearly a second yellow for Sporting's captain [Hjulmand] that wasn't shown; I think there's clearly a very funny situation in the 95th minute, near the flag, about Belotti, in which the VAR should call the referee and make a decision. And, in my opinion, the move for our second goal is very dubious. I see that [Álvaro] Carreras touches the ball, we get the ball... we have a very strong start to the second half... 1-0 and 2-0, and the game was going our way. But unfortunately, we weren't able to take our share of the responsibility. Unfortunately, in those last games with Sporting, the posts didn't want anything to do with us either, but I'm here to take full responsibility. What I can't say enough is how proud I am to work with my players, who once again implemented our strategy for this game very well."

SEVERAL CHANCES CREATED

"[Will Benfica lose this final because of the refereeing?] They ask me to analyze the game, and I analyze the different situations. In terms of the game and our team's performance, I think that for 99 minutes and 30 seconds we were clearly the better team, the team that created the most chances. We had several chances to make it 1-0, then several chances to make it 2-0. I repeat: in my opinion, we scored the 2-0, [Álvaro] Carreras touched the ball first. Then I also analyze the refereeing, and the most important thing right now is to take responsibility for the fact that we didn't win the title."

DI MARÍA AND THE CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT RUI COSTA

"[Do you think you're in a position to continue as head coach?] I'll repeat what I've been saying. I'll never be able to repay in the same way what Benfica has already given me. I came here thinking about it, it's the first time that, at the age of 49, I've been to a cup final. My 10-year-old son was in the stands, and I came to this house many years ago to coach 10-year-old boys. So what Benfica has already given me, and what it has helped me with as a coach, I'm going to give back in some way. After that, I will never be the problem, I came to be the solution, to help. I'll never be the problem, and now the next step is to talk to the President [Rui Costa], to understand what's beneficial for Benfica, and that's how it will be. [Had you defined that you would only use Di María if the result was open or in extra time?] We defined the best strategy for the game. In my opinion, what we had prepared for the game went perfectly. Even because the player who played in Di [María]'s position, I think he had a good game, scored a goal, and then the game called for other situations that we changed. So I think we made the best decision from the start, we always controlled the game, the defensive line was very good, we changed António's [Silva] position for Nico's [Otamendi] and everything went perfectly. The team always knew how to control the game and afterward. As the substitutions are made... because it happens, Kökcü felt a pain, and we'll make the changes depending on the moment. As for Di Maria, he was an exemplary professional throughout the season, and both he and I wanted to end the season with the trophy so we could give it to our fans. He has a beautiful history at the service of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and I'm sure he, more than anyone, is saddened by the way we weren't able to offer this trophy to our fans."

GO FROM A 2-0 SITUATION TO THE FINAL RESULT

"We made it 2-0. We had several chances after the 1-0 to score. At least one or two more chances to score. There's a fantastic chance from Belotti at the end. I don't remember a save from Samu [Samuel Soares] during 45 plus 45 plus 10 minutes - completely exaggerated, for me, those 10 minutes of extra time. So I don't remember seeing Sporting create a dangerous chance, and I feel we had more. But that's every coach's opinion, this is mine. We have a very good start to the first half, there's a ball against the post, there's a ball from Bruma that hits a player's leg and goes out. There's the shot for the 1st goal, there's the shot for the 2nd goal, and then there's another good chance from Belotti. Anyway, I think we created a number of chances to win the game. We didn't manage it, and what I feel, and I have to say this, is that we went from 2-0 up to the final result."