Bruno Lage: “We got to be connected and work as a team”

Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Sporting CP will meet this Wednesday at 8:45 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in the 1st leg of the Portuguese Cup Semifinals. The Benfica's coach has previewed this match in a press conference, at Caixa Futebol Campus.

Will we have a more cautious and closed match or the fact that there are 1^st and 2^nd legs, can bring a different game from the one in Alvalade?

It will be a different match. We faced the last one as a final, because it was for the championship and we did not have time and space to lose points. It is one more derby, important, but it is not decisive. The decision comes later.

Given what happened last Sunday, is there a risk that the team will be dazzled? Do you expect the same easiness?

The easiness is based on your analysis, on the result. The match was very difficult and competitive, with a very good result, the fruit of our work, 90 minutes with quality. It will be a different match, and the important is to maintain the balance. In the match against Sporting we were happy with the result, we analyzed the match and we were happy. I feel confidence, quality, the team's style of play is in line with our ideas. I focus and put pressure on the task, on training, on what I can control and on preparing the match.

How much is João Félix worth with this influence he's had since Bruno Lage took over the team?

O João Félix has the value someone has when that person works as a team. Bruno Lage has the value someone has when that person works with his coaching staff. We must be connected to each other and work as a team.