António Silva: "Make the most of every day"

INTERVIEW: SUMMARY

In the same register - calm and mature - that defines and differentiates him on the pitch, António Silva gave an interview to the newspaper A Bola in which he spoke about his first and unforgettable season at the service of Benfica's first team.

CELEBRATION OF THE 38TH NATIONAL TITLE

"It is something that goes down in the history of the players and the Club, after a four-year drought for Benfica, something that is not normal. But today we are already thinking about what the next season will be, which will be very difficult for us."

BECOMING CHAMPION WITH BENFICA

"I, particularly, didn't think I would end the season at the Marquês as a player. I knew it was going to be very difficult for me, things ended up happening, and I am very happy to be able to do it for Benfica." 

THE UNFORGETTABLE AFTERNOON AT BESSA

"During the week, I didn't know if I was going to play. The coach then ended up telling me, also so that it wouldn't be a big surprise for me, so that I could adapt to what the game was going to be like. The decision ultimately falls on me, as it could have been on Vertonghen, who was a player of great quality, who always dignified the Club in the best possible way. The coach eventually chose for me to play, and things went well."

OTAMENDI'S EXAMPLE

"I think Nico is not so much for the words and coming to talk to me, but it's what he does in training and in-game that I have to look at and try to understand. He is a very strong player in duels, in anticipation, which is his strongest point, and then he is a true warrior on the pitch, he gives everything for the emblem. He is our captain, I tried to learn as much as possible from him, both on and off the pitch, as a captain too, because I always try to improve and try to understand what a captain has to transmit to the team. That's what I learned from Nico."

THE PHYSICAL WORK

"Clearly there was a plan that was successful in what is the work to increase muscle mass, speed, power, acceleration, and core, these things that are very important in what is the game and the training, because no doubt that our body is our support and we need it to play and train in the best possible way."

FROM THE ACADEMY TO THE DREAM

"I knew I had to fight for a place, but in the beginning, I didn't have the expectation of playing. I was trying to enjoy the pre-season. I knew it was going to be very difficult to play, I had it in my head that I could even train in the first team, but that my game was going to be all year in the B team, because that's what was, more or less, planned. Things were happening, things went well, and it's a good thing for me, and also for the Club, because having players from Seixal in the first team is very important."

ROGER SCHMIDT'S CONFIDENCE

"He trusted me, he always gave me all the help he could to be well in the games, which is the same as he does with the other players."

THE NIGHT BEFORE FACING MESSI, MBAPPÉ AND NEYMAR

"At that time I was just starting out, I wanted to play, to enjoy it. I knew it was a very special moment for me. The night I spent it in a normal way, as usual: I had dinner, slept and rested. Extra nervousness? No, I don't think so. I knew it was going to be a very special day, it ended up being a draw [1-1] that maybe didn't taste very good, but for Benfica, being able to play PSG at home [in the Champions League group stage] and play the way we did, toe to toe, I think it was a very special day."

GOAL SCORING CENTRAL DEFENDER

"I scored five goals, I try to score them, it's something that is also very good for a player, to feel the goal, the celebration together with the fans. We center-backs don't have those opportunities very often, I try to create them, to be as incisive as possible in set pieces or at any moment of the game."

THE CALL-UP FOR THE WORLD CUP

"It was something that happened very fast. At the time there were four central defenders, three a little more fixed, and then there was the option for the fourth vacancy. Things went well for me, I think the Champions League matches also influenced the choice of national coach Fernando Santos. I am very grateful to him for calling me up, but any player who was called up would make as good a contribution, or better, and this is the most important thing, that the National Team will always have players on the doorstep and there will always be a lot of quality."

AN (ALMOST PERFECT) SEASON

"I think it was perfect, we missed, maybe, a Portuguese Cup and going further in the Champions League, but I'm fine with the 38th league title and also with going to Qatar [World Cup 2022], which was undoubtedly a very good moment for me. I hope the next season will be better."