"We were fair winners"

POST-MATCH

A “fair victory”! Bruno Lage considered Benfica to be the better team on the pitch in the clash against Sporting (0-1), after winning the 10th Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup on Thursday, July 31, in a match played at the Estádio Algarve.

DETERMINING FACTORS FOR VICTORY

"The players' determination to prepare for this game in 15 days was decisive. That was the secret. And, of course, the fantastic support from our fans. We wanted to win the first trophy of the season. That's what matters most. Now, the focus is on the next Champions League qualifying round, which is a very important preliminary round for us, because we really want it, the players really want it, and they deserve to play in the Champions League. That is our focus."

ROLE IN TRANSFERS

"I have been very committed, as have the president and the sporting director. And that's what I said at the end of the Bayern game: that we would work calmly, that we would bring in the players I feel this team deserves and that we need to grow. I was committed to all [the transfers], to Enzo [Barrenechea], to [Richard] Ríos, to Ivanovic, who arrived today (Thursday, July 31), hasn't trained yet, and has already taken photos with his teammates, to Obrador. Anyway, we are committed to everyone, to building what we believe to be a strong squad. Besides, no one knows the player [João Félix] better than I do. The player didn't come, if you want to talk about someone named João, as I said, I'll talk about João Rego, João Veloso. If you want me to talk about someone named Félix, I have to talk about Nuno, who is at home, who had a serious injury, and who I would like to be here celebrating with the team. That's the most important thing, those who are here."

IMPORTANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENT

"I think we were fair winners. We were better, we were winners, and that's what counts for us. Criticism, and anyone in this position, looking at what the last four, five, six coaches have been like—and I include myself twice in that lot—we always have to be open to criticism. This is a huge club, and what matters most to us is the future. So, we won the game, we have 15 days of work, and what I want to say is that, looking at the team and the way it played, it lasted 90 minutes, with only 15 days of work. In other words, with half a dozen training sessions, doing the third training session, and giving me good indicators. But there's no time to breathe. You know that, amid the euphoria, and to the players' credit, they deserve and deserved two days off, but they will only get one because we have no time to lose. And time, at this moment, is our enemy; they realized that we have to get back to work quickly because we have a very important preliminary round coming up, against a difficult opponent (Nice), and we, the Club, deserve it. These players work hard to play, and I want to play in the Champions League again with Benfica."

IVANOVIC AND WHAT YOU FEEL IS MISSING IN THIS MARKET

"[Where would Ivanovic fit into today's team] On the bench, or on the stand, as he was (smiles). I can't answer the market's question, I'll answer the market's question when it closes. Now, I repeat, and I'll repeat, I think it's important, and I think you could build something on that and see what we're going to do. Our market has to take into account the injuries we've had, both Bah's and Manu's, the departure of some players at the end of their contracts, the departure of players on loan, and the new additions to the team. And, since I'm talking about these players, I'd also like to remember, because they were part of this journey and this trophy, that it was their work that got us here, and I'd also like to share this trophy with André Gomes, Adrian [Bajrami], Álvaro Carreras, Kökcü, Renato [Sanches], Zeki [Amdouni], Arthur [Cabral], Di María, and Belotti. And, of course, Lourenço Coelho and Ricardo Lemos."