"It's the right result"

POST-MATCH

Bruno Lage considered that Benfica's team had the attitude and skill to overcome the heat, a long break, and Auckland City's defensive stance to achieve a “definite result” of 6-0 on Friday, June 20, on matchday 2 of Group C of the Club World Cup.

CONSTANT DYNAMICS

"I think we played a good game. We played a very intense first half. What we could have done slightly better, but it was really very hot, was to move the ball around a little faster. However, I think we created enough chances to be winning by more than 1-0 at halftime. A long break, lasting 2 hours and 24 minutes, also allowed us to analyze the game more closely and correct our positioning, both in midfield and in defense, so that we were closer to our opponents to win the second ball. The momentum was constant, and what we did during the game was to make the best decisions. We made a change at halftime and then made further changes to refresh the team so that it could maintain its momentum. Because it was a very difficult game. The opposition had practically 11 men inside the box, and we had to try different things: with movements inside the box, with different types of crosses, from the inside, from the outside, with shots from outside the box, with combinations and dynamics based on the individual abilities of our players. I think that, when we look at the 90 minutes, we managed to do that. It's a 6-0 result, we could have possibly scored two more goals, but it's the right result."

KÖKCÜ'S DESIRE TO SCORE MORE GOALS

"[Kökcü's situation at the time of his substitution and leaving the bench after Renato Sanches' goal] No, he didn't leave. Kökcü stayed on the bench until the end. It's the desire to win. Kökcü wanted to win, he wanted to score more goals. And, from the outside, we understood that to score more goals, Renato [Sanches] had to come on. So Renato came on, he came on very well, and two minutes later he scored a goal. Regardless of the moment of each player, I make decisions. In the last game [Boca Juniors], I felt that Renato had to start the game. Kökcü came on, played very well, and helped us, with one man down, to tie the game. Today, I felt that we had to freshen up that position with Renato coming on. It was my decision, and two minutes later, Renato scored a goal. So, it's the player's desire, he wanted to score more goals. And I wanted that too, everyone wanted to score more goals, and we made the best decisions to get the result we had. [Episode of indiscipline?] What I have seen is the behavior of an athlete who is always very professional. He had a past with a coach, he has a present with me, he has always responded on and off the field. This is an isolated incident. I have seen that throughout the year he has always behaved very well, on and off the field, I repeat. It is the player's desire to score more goals, to help the team. He left, and I always make the decisions I have to make, regardless of who it is, I've proven that more than once. I look at each player's moment, at the moment of the game, and I make decisions with a clear conscience."

AMBITION FOR THE MATCH AGAINST BAYERN

"[Is Benfica ready to face Bayern Munich?] It has to be. We need to recover and then prepare for the game in the best possible way. We know they are a very tough opponent, and that will be the challenge. The way Bayern plays and defends is very aggressive, with man-to-man marking practically all over the field. That's a fact, and we want to prepare for the game in the best possible way. We know in advance what I just said, we have to prepare ourselves to understand what kind of spaces we will have. But as I said, this is a new competition for us, it's the first time we've taken part in it as a club, many of our players are also competing in the Club World Cup for the first time, and our goal is this: we have a game ahead of us, we feel we can win it, so we'll approach it and prepare for it that way."

AN ENGLISH-STYLE STADIUM

"[Opinion on the Inter&Co Stadium facilities] Very good. When I was here yesterday [Thursday], it reminded me of an English stadium, particularly QPR's. Very good, the facilities are very good, and I'm very happy to be playing here."