"I feel we could have won the game"

POST-MATCH

Bruno Lage felt that Benfica deserved more than a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors in their opening match in Group C of the Club World Cup, played on Monday evening, June 16.

BEST TEAM ON THE PITCH

"I have the feeling that we were the best team on the pitch. We had a very good start, we had a very good chance from Renato [Sanches]. Then, unfortunately, we conceded two goals that really punished us. We managed to score a goal in the first half, and our change at half-time was to put another man near Pavlidis, put more people between the lines, look for the moves we wanted: short diagonals into the box. Unfortunately, with the sending off, we were limited. However, even with 10 men, I think we were the best team on the pitch. We deserved a draw and I feel we could have won the game. So we've got 1 point, we'd like to have 3, we've got 2 games left, and we've got to get as many points as possible to go on to the next stage, which is our goal."

FUTURE, DETERMINATION AND MANAGEMENT

"The second game... First, we have to win it and have that [number of goals] in the equation, and then we also have the game with Bayern. What I feel is that the team always has this attitude, has this determination, doesn't give up, and always takes the game to the end. That's a very important factor for us. We play as a team, and that makes me really happy. About Aktürkoğlu and Kökcü, management. And management has to do with energy. Looking at the game and feeling what has been a huge season. What I told him yesterday [Sunday]: to do this Championship, this competition, with the mentality of a coach. Look at what has been a very tiring season for both of them. Kökcü went off injured in the Cup final. You saw it today, he has a bandage from the middle of his leg almost to his ankle. We felt we could come on in the second half, even with the temperature cooler, and give the game the energy and pace we wanted. And also for Aktürkoğlu, it's been a very stressful season for them. We felt that both Renato [Sanches] and Bruma adapted very well to the climate and came with very good energy for the team, and I felt I could start with them in the game."

RIGHT-BACK AND JOÃO FÉLIX

"[Are you counting on Aursnes for the right side of the defense?] No, look, Freddy [Aursnes] is a fantastic player, he plays in different positions, but I'm counting on him in another position. Eventually, in the course of the game, as he did today, he can play there and help us out, there's no problem, but not starting from the beginning. We need a right-back. With regard to João [Félix], it's what I say, there have to be two wills and also the financial aspect. There is willingness, and we feel that there is willingness on both sides, but there has to be a financial aspect, which deal, and how much we have to spend on João. And then, on João's side, understanding that Benfica can't afford his salary at the moment. This is to be clear, because we know how much João wants to return to Benfica, we know that many players would like to return to Benfica, and then, when the offers come, in terms of salary, it's short. So there have to be these two wills and these two capacities: on the one hand, to offer and to make an offer; on the other hand, to eventually realize that in Portugal you don't pay the wages you pay at other clubs."

THE FANTASTIC ENVIRONMENT

"It was fantastic, it really was a fantastic atmosphere. The game had a lot of energy on and off the pitch. In the 2nd half, I felt that the game had a lot of stoppages, it could have had more pace and, unfortunately, it didn't. We're a team with pace, and I felt that Boca weren't going to withstand our pace if we kept going. We're a team that has pace, and I felt that Boca couldn't cope with our pace if we kept it up. My point is that five minutes of compensation is really short. But it was also a game with a lot of energy off the pitch. We felt like we were playing away, because the Boca Juniors fans filled a large part of the stadium, but there was also a huge sense of pride because our fans made themselves heard and supported the team when we needed them most. So it was a very interesting game to watch. Now it's a race for points. What's most important is that we win the next game, take three points and then we'll play Bayern Munich with the ambition of picking up points."

ÁLVARO CARRERAS'S DISPLAY

"It was a growing match. He started intermittently, but then I think he grew into the game and ended up with a good chance in the second half to score. We're very happy with Álvaro, he's very happy to be at Benfica, and it's still a great pleasure to work with him."

OTAMENDI'S EXAMPLE

"[Impact of Otamendi and set pieces]

It's very important, and I'm taking advantage of your question to once again appreciate the work of the coaching staff. Of course, we're one of the top teams in Europe, and we're talking about Europe because of the statistics we have for set pieces... It's to the credit and creativity of our staff that they always come up with moves to create these opportunities. We have a very good goal scoring record and Nico [Otamendi] is having a fantastic season. The information we had was that he'd already surpassed the number of set-piece goals this season, and he's scored one more. He's a very important player for us at the moment, both in attack and defense. A wealth of experience, leadership and an example of professionalism and hard work."

DI MARÍA'S PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL VALUE

"Di [María] is an excellent professional and, as well as being an excellent professional, he's a great human being. What I can tell you is that I'm really going to miss him, working with him, because, as well as being a great player, he always respected all my decisions, and that's very important to me. That's why I'm so proud to work with him, because of what he is as a player, but above all what he is as a man, and the example he sets for his players. And, throughout the season, he has always accepted all my decisions very well."