"Representing Benfica in the best possible way"

STATEMENTS

Florentino acknowledges that Benfica's objective is to leave a "positive impression" at the 2025 Club World Cup, hoping to "start off on the right foot" in the competition against Boca Juniors on Monday, June 16, in Miami.

The midfielder praised the fact that the team is doing "a great job" getting ready for the tournament, so they can take the field against the Argentinian side in the "best shape" and get the win.

Florentino, one of the team's captains, also sees the constant pressure to win from Benfica as fuel for success. "Any player who plays for Benfica and doesn't feel pressure is in the wrong place, in my opinion. We live with that pressure, and we must know how to live with it. It's that pressure that has to push us to the limit," he said.

It's a new competition, so I imagine it's a source of pride on a personal level and, of course, for the club.

Yes, it's a new competition, one we weren't used to, and at a time we're not used to either, so everything is a little different. All this adaptation is being done well, it's being done gradually, so that we arrive at the first game in the best possible condition, to give the best performance.

How do you cope with these temperatures, humidity, and everything off the pitch?

It's something we have to get used to over time. Of course, it's not what we're used to, but with each training session, we feel more comfortable, and, as I said before, it's about arriving on game day and being better prepared to give our best.

As one of the most experienced players, and now also wearing the captain's armband, how do you tune out the noise? First, there was all the noise surrounding the end of last season; now there is also a lot of noise surrounding transfers, for example, the issue of [Álvaro] Carreras. Is it possible to shield the group from everything that is being said outside?

Yes, we always try to do what we do well, which is play football, and give our best in every training session. Knowing that we are representing Benfica, even though there is a lot of noise outside, we have to represent our club in the best way possible, because we represent Benfica and not the clubs that the players may represent. We try and remain focused regardless of what is going on, because we always want to win the next game, and that is our goal.

Would you like to see João Félix at Benfica?

João Félix is a symbol of the Academy we have, he is a player who has already given a lot to Benfica, he is a great player, but it's not up to me. Of course he is a great player, and Benfica always wants to surround itself with great players, but it's not up to me.

How will the match against Boca Juniors be? It is the first time that the two teams will face each other officially. How do you view the importance of this match?

It's a very important game, and we want to get off to a good start. We know that they play a slightly different style of football to European teams. They are a very intense team, who thrive on physical challenges, and we have to match them in that respect, or even surpass them, if we are to win.

How has Álvaro Carreras been feeling?

All players are focused.

Regarding the pressure that has been there since the end of the season, do you feel more pressure to achieve better results in this Club World Cup?

Any player who plays for Benfica and doesn't feel pressured is in the wrong place, in my opinion. We live with that pressure, and we have to learn to live with it. It's that pressure that pushes us to our limits.

I ask you this also because of the words of the President while still in Portugal, that it is necessary to show a good image, a different image in this competition.

Yes, we want to project a good image at all times. We know that the season didn't end the way we wanted it to, but we were fighting for titles until the very end, and it was just small details that we couldn't get right. But we're always under pressure to win, and that's good for us.