"It's a Champions League game and we have to go all out, only victory matters to us"

PREVIEW

Benfica and Real Sociedad lock horns at 5:45 pm this Wednesday, November 8, on matchday 4 of Group D of the Champions League. Given the context, as João Mário in the preview, the Reale Arena will have to be a personalized, mature team, firm in its objectives and totally focused on winning.

What lessons did Benfica learn from the game at the Estádio da Luz to apply to tomorrow's game [Wednesday]?

We saw a very well-trained team with a very clear idea of the game. They played an excellent game, but we were too permissive and found it difficult. We've analyzed it, we have a different strategy and what we want is to impose our game. We're a very attack-minded team that always tries to condition our opponents, and we hope we can do that. It will be important to defend very well and attack even better if we want to win the game. We're up against a great opponent, but we have the quality to do much more, and I'm sure the team is much more stable at the moment and will do everything to win the game. It's the only way we know how to play! We always play offensively, trying to condition the opponent, and that's what we'll try to do.

In recent games, João Mário has taken center stage, scoring goals... What's changing?

I always try to see things and the game in a collective way, whenever I'm on the pitch I try to help as much as possible. I always try to impose my characteristics and qualities for the benefit of the team. We all have a lot of room for improvement, and we know clearly what our objectives are. It all starts tomorrow [Wednesday], we have a final. If we win, we can continue to nurture the dream of the Champions League, and that's where the focus is. We can't do anything about the past.

You said the team is confident. How optimistic and confident should the fans be?

At the same level as us, I hope. We know our opponents are very good, they proved it at home, but we've all proved that, whether in the Portuguese league or the Champions League, we have the team to play a different game, to beat this opponent, so I hope they're as confident as we are, because we really believe it.

This is a difficult week for Benfica, with two very important games: Real Sociedad in the Champions League and Sporting in the league. Is there a risk of prioritizing one of the games?

Impossible, especially given what has happened in the last three Champions League games, with three less positive results, so the focus has to be on this game. The difficulty of the challenge demands it, it's one game at a time, and our thoughts are on tomorrow [Wednesday]. We know it's a special week, for the fans too, but we'd be crazy not to think about this game first, given what happened in the Luz match and the respect this opponent deserves.

Do you believe it's still possible to advance to the next round of the Champions League?

As long as it's possible, we'll dream and believe, but it's very much about tomorrow's game [Wednesday]. With a win, anything can happen, so our full focus is on this match. We hope to have a great game and a great result.