Bruno Lage: “Turn each match into final"

The coach of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Bruno Lage, made the preview, in a press conference, at Caixa Futebol Campus, of the match from round 25 of the Liga NOS, against Belenenses SAD, scheduled for 8:15 pm on Monday, at Estádio da Luz. 

Which Belenenses do you expect to face?

It is an opponent that beat us in the reverse fixture, and that alone reveals its quality. It is a team with a good organization and with a great willingness to play well and have ball possession. It is a very competent squad, with good players, a good coach. It will be a very attractive match and to win it we must be at our best level.

It has been confirmed that Seferovic is not available, will you field Jonas in his place? Will Benfica have to change its playing style?

Regardless of the formation, when we change the player we must seize what they offer to the team’s dynamics. I will not say who will play but the most important thing is what we build as a team and then try to make the most of what each player offers to that dynamic and to the collective.

Another week with three games is coming up. Due to the demand , will it be a different week in terms of preparation?

No! It has been like that since I took over the squad. We never had a complete week, from Sunday to Sunday tivemos uma semana completa, de domingo a domingo. Houve um período de cinco dias em que pudemos treinar a seguir à meia-final com o FC Porto [na Taça da Liga] e agora 4 ou 5 dias… A consequência tem sido sempre essa. Dá muito trabalho porque gostamos de fazer uma análise muito detalhada do nosso jogo, que é o mais importante, a forma como jogamos e como queremos evoluir, e depois também ter uma perspetiva daquilo que é o Belenenses. Neste espaço, entre o jogo do Dínamo e o dia de hoje, já vimos o nosso jogo e quatro jogos do Belenenses. É o nosso trabalho, independentemente dos dias que temos, tem de ser feito. Estamos a dar o melhor de nós, toda a gente, para que as coisas se concretizem. Isso é o mais importante!

Has anything changed because Benfica is League’s top spot? Do you feel that Benfica is the main title contender looking at the remaining fixtures?

I did not feel a big difference. Since our arrival, and after the natural effect of a managerial change, we must be the first ones to lift the team spirit. I have been feeling the same joy, determination, and attitude in training. With respect to the calendar, both teams still have 10 matches to play. There are ten games and there are many points at stake. We want to turn each match into a final, with huge determination to earn points and reach the end of these ten games keeping this position.

Text: Sónia Antunes

Pics: Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica