"Union, positive energy and the ambition to make supporters happy"

PRESS CONFERENCE

Bruno Lage wants to extend to "45 minutes of excellence" that Benfica displayed in Portimão, now away at Rio Ave [Wednesday, at 9:15 pm]. 

How does Benfica view Rio Ave and how did the team prepared itself for this clash in Vila do Conde?

We're going up against a very competent opponent, with enormous collective and individual quality. It has made an excellent campaign in terms of points and quality displays. This is a huge opportunity for us to do what we know and want, and for which we work daily, which is excellence. We found it in 45 minutes in Portimão, and we prepared all week to extend those 45 minutes of excellence against such a competent team as Rio Ave. 

Samaris has already ranged from starting lineup, the bench and the stands, and is a player with charisma in the squad. Was there any specific reason why he was not present among the options in Portimão?

It's all a matter of choice. I understand the question, but I have a good memory. Two games ago, specifically at the end of the game against Vitoria de Setubal, I was asked if Gabriel, who had had so much time without playing, was an important player to be on the pitch.  Of the last four games, do you know how many games Samaris has been on the pitch? He was in two, against Moreirense and V. Setúbal. All the players are committed, they live Benfica passionately. You can't just look at a player. They've all been in, they've all been out. With the union we have had and are having, with the ambition to do more and better to make the members happy and with the positive energy that is transmitted among all... That's how we should direct our attention to winning this game tomorrow [Wednesday].

Text: Diogo Nascimento, Filipa Fernandes Garcia, João Sanches and Sónia Antunes

Photos: Tânia Paulo / SL Benfica