🎥 Pizzi's "pride" for 50 goals in the Benfica jersey

After scoring a brace in the start of the 2019/20 edition of the Liga NOS, Pizzi reached the goal 50 for Sport Lisboa e Benfica. In an extensive interview with BTV, the Portuguese international recalled the journey to the milestone that makes him the eighth midfielder with more goals for the Reds, according to data from the platform Playmaker Stats.

When you scored [in the home match against Paços de Ferreira] did you know it was the 50th goal?

No, I knew I was close, but I don't usually count the goals I have. Only later, at the end of the match, did I realize it was my 50^th goal. I was obviously very happy. It's an important milestone for any player and scoring 50 goals with this jersey is a pride for me.

You' re the 40^th Benfica player to reach the 50-goal mark in official games. Are you going according to your initial expectations?

In my career as a footballer, the most important thing is always to help the team and I always prefer to make an assist rather than a goal. It's already part of my DNA, my way of being on the pitch. It's true that a player always likes to score a goal and it's the strongest image in the world of football, but, honestly, I've never put too high an expectation on the goal.

Which of these 50 goals was the best or the most special?

Every goal in this jersey is important and special. I've scored a lot, I don't remember them all, but one of the goals I liked the most was in the Super Cup against SC Braga. It was a beautiful goal that gave us another title. It was special for me because it was against a team where I've played and for whom I have a lot of affection and then also because it helped Benfica win another title.

Last season you were the player with the most assists in the European leagues 24 in the season, almost 70 for Benfica…

I must confess that it is a great source of pride to have been the player with the most assists in Europe last year.  That's what I work for every day. At this point, of course, my goal is always to surpass myself and my milestones every day, but later on we'll see how things are going. I hope I can maintain my assist record.

Pizzi at Benfica 

* season underway

Text: Filipa Fernandes Garcia

Photos: Tânia Paulo / SL Benfica