🎥 Bruno Lage: "Repeat the display we made in the Championship"

PREVIEW

Bruno Lage, the coach of Benfica, previewed, in a press conference, the match against Rio Ave, for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup. The match is scheduled for 9:15 pm this Tuesday, at Estádio da Luz.

What are your expectations for this game and how must Benfica play?

We have to play as we played in the Championship. Rio Ave is a very competent team. It was a well-played and difficult match, we've put in a good performance and scored two goals. Rio Ave has a great coach and two excellent assistant coaches, and we must be at our best. They are carrying out a very good campaign in the Liga NOS, with a good performance in the Cups. They'll create difficulties for us and will want to go through to the next stage, but at home, we have to repeat the display we made in the Championship.

Will you rotate players, since 72 hours later you have to play against Sporting?

It's less than 72 hours... We have to take that into consideration. The gaffer Carlos Carvalhal is an expert in the recovery of players who play every three days. I learned a lot from him, from experience in England. It is a match and we have to win it to move on in the Portuguese Cup. All options are on the table and we will decide which is the best starting XI to win the match.

Rafa is already at 100 percent? Are you thinking of handing him minutes against Rio Ave?

He is in the squad list.

Text: Marco Rebelo and João Sanches

Photos: Cátia Luís / SL Benfica