Jorge Jesus: "We need the win, we cannot think any other way"

PREVIEW

On the day of the 117th anniversary of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Jorge Jesus previewed the encounter against Rio Ave, for matchday 21 of the Liga NOS.

How do you foresee the match against Rio Ave?

Today is a special day. Benfica is 117 years old. It is a special moment for all the Members and supporters of the Club, we also miss them at the Stadium. We are looking forward to their return. As for the game against Rio Ave, it is a team that has a very different idea and game model under Miguel Cardoso. They are a team with a very strong counter-attack, with players I know well because I used to coach them. We will find a very organized team, which plays well on the counter-attack. We are prepared for those moments. We can' t think any other way... We need a win and we know that to beat Rio Ave, we need to play well.

After the match against Arsenal, in the 2nd leg of the Europa League round of 32, what is the players' state of mind?

In football, coaches and players want the next match to come faster, especially when you didn’t win. It's in difficult moments that great players and great coaches are built, so we know we are in a difficult moment, but we are prepared to try to overcome this phase of some less positive results. We worked physically and mentally. What we saw throughout the week was a happy team, a team with the will to change the last result and tomorrow [Monday] we will go looking for the victory.

In this match, you won't be able to count on Otamendi due to suspension. Do you admit returning to the three central defenders formation?

Each game has its strategy depending on the opponent. It's not that the team hadn't given very good indications, because if it hadn't given those indications it wouldn't have competed in the tie against Arsenal the way it did. This match has different characteristics, but that possibility has not been ruled out.

Do you believe Benfica can win the remaining 14 Championship matches or is the team's focus on one match at a time?

Benfica has two competitions with a lot to recover and to win, both in the Portuguese Cup, where we have one game left to reach the final and in the Championship. There's a lot to win, but it's going to be game after game.