João Mário: "There is no question regarding the fairness of this title"

INTERVIEW: SUMMARY

With the serenity of a leader, João Mário, Benfica's vice-captain, gave an interview to the newspaper A Bola where he talked about the remarkable moments that led to the 38th national title, in a journey that was his best in his career.

There were 51 official games, 23 goals and 13 assists, if we look at all competitions. In the Liga Bwin, he scored 17 goals in the 2657 minutes he played, rounding off the podium of the competition's top scorers. 

THE FEELING ASSOCIATED WITH THE TITLE

"This title was very special for me, because of the change I made, with a bit of a special season last year when I started very well in the first half and then, for various reasons, it wasn't very good. It was important, not only to add to my individual performance this year, but also to win a title for Benfica, which was so desired by me and all the fans. It was certainly special to be in the history of this trophy and, individually, positively, to be present and important in the title."

THE JUSTICE OF AN UNDISPUTED LEADER

"Fair winner? There is no doubt about it. Looking at the Championship, we were always a very consistent team. With the serenity of a leader, João Mário, When a team is in first place from the first to the last round, you can't even ask that question. We were the team that played the best soccer, offensive football, we were a compact team, so we had the best defense. We were also a very exciting team in Europe. There is no question about the fairness of this title." 

FIRST MEETING WITH ROGER SCHMIDT

"It was special for me, because during the period after the last Championship and the beginning of the era with master Roger [Schmidt] a lot was said about my continuity, my importance, if I would have space in this new Benfica with him. For me, it is special, because it had never happened to me in my career... In the first conversation I had with him, he told me 'you are going to be important in my game concept and in my team' and 'I think you are at the perfect age to, in a way, lead the dressing room'. It was special that a coach with so much experience, with so much quality, said that. He said that in the first conversation without any training session, and it ended up being confirmed... If there are key moments that mark, this was one of them." 

BEST GOAL SCORED

"Maybe the goal I scored against Maccabi [in Haifa]. We had done well in the Champions League, but finishing first in a group with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, for all that it meant, was the goal I would have chosen." 

DECISION TO MOVE TO BENFICA

"I don't think there was any specific moment. The first person from Benfica I spoke with was our President [Rui Costa], who, at the time, was not yet President. Benfica presented me with a very interesting project, with a coach I knew very well. When I came to Benfica, it was clearly the best sporting option I had at that time. The interest was very high and, in a way, it was an easy decision."

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESIDENT RUI COSTA IN THE TITLE

"President Rui Costa is not only a president for us. For all that he was as a player, for all that he created by working in other roles at Benfica. No doubt he is the main responsible because he is the one who chooses the mastermind that helped all of this. Above all, he is a special president because he is very close to the team, understands very well what the locker room is, and knows when to speak, and what to say. He always played a fundamental role in what was this title, because he knows soccer like no one else." 

FINISH THE CAREER AT BENFICA

"Yes. Given everything I have found here, the way I have been received, the length of my contract, I would say that in three years I would like to be here and fulfill my contract. I believe more and more that all the decisions I make today are to extend more and more the years that I can play. I don't believe that at 33 I will end my career. I believe I can play even more, so everything I do nowadays is in order to extend it and give my best for my club." 

NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP MORE DIFFICULT

"I don't believe much in favorites, because if we started this season we would say that the favorite was different, because we finished in 3rd place last year.  I think the new season will be even more difficult for us to defend the title, because our rivals will certainly strengthen themselves. They will want to fight in every possible way to take away our next title, but it is our responsibility to fight for the 39th national title because it is part of the Club's history."

FOREVER GRATEFUL TO BENFICA

"Benfica gave me a lot. To begin with, a lot of joy and a lot of confidence. It made me feel part of the history of this great club, as I said before, above all it gave me stability. I always said, even to people close to me, that I would be eternally grateful to the club that made me leave Inter for good, and I will be forever grateful to Benfica for that. Because it was a very difficult period, and ending that connection, that difficult period, and starting a beautiful story with Benfica will always be special for me."