"It's up to us to win games, to make the fans happy like we've done in the past"

PREVIEW

Benfica's approach to the match against Salzburg on Tuesday, December 12, in Austria, on matchday 6 of Group D in the Champions League, will be "the same" as what the Eagles always show: "To play attacking football and to win."

How important was it for you to hear the President's message after the moment you had with the Benfica fans in the last game [against Farense on Friday, December 8]? Were those words important for you and for the fans to understand your position?

For me, it wasn't that important, because I know what our President thinks about us, about me, and about our football, the way we work together. We're in touch every day, and I do not doubt his attitude and belief in all of us. If you look at what's happened over the last year and a half, where Benfica has come from and what our situation is today... Of course we're not satisfied with our participation in the Champions League, but if you look at the other competitions, everything is open. Anything is possible. We're one point off the top of the league, we're in the other competitions, and we can still reach the Europa League. We're playing good football, everything is balanced, but, of course, uniting everyone at Benfica is very important. Of course it's important for the President to speak to everyone. Now, after a year and a half, I know a lot about Benfica. It's a very special club, where there's very little tolerance for draws or defeats.  So it's up to us to win games, to make the fans happy, as we have done in the past. That's it, it's very simple. In our group, in Benfica, we all believe in the success of this group, and we've shown it.

The team needs to win by two goals. Is it important for him to have a greater goal scoring instinct in the box?

That's clear. Maybe we won't have as many chances as last time out, but we have the quality to score more goals, to play attacking football away from home. Our approach is always to go forward, score goals, and win games. Our approach will be no different, we'll see what our opponents' approach will be, and we have to be ready for a tough game.

Both teams like to control the game. How can Benfica get closer to scoring the goals it needs?

One thing's for sure, we need two goals, more goals than we scored in the last game. We probably won't create the same number of chances, but what we showed in the last game is that we're in very good form, perhaps the best phase of this season in terms of football.  We're playing very well, creating lots of chances, and now it's up to us to use those opportunities to win games. Tomorrow [Tuesday 12 December] is a very good opportunity, because if we're not able to score and be effective, then we'll be out of international football. For us, the team, the coaching staff, the Benfica fans and everyone at Benfica, it's very important to play international football in the new year too. We'll give everything, we have the confidence, the team and the players are in good shape, so now it's up to us.

In 25 games this season, Salzburg have only lost once by two goals or more. How worried are you about this?

Of course it's difficult to win in Salzburg, they're a good team, but we've also shown that we're capable of playing good football in these situations. For me, it's 100 percent clear that we can create chances, especially as we're in very good form. If you look at the home game with Salzburg, we played 90 minutes with 10 players. At 10', we got a red card, there were 10 minutes of compensation, so it was 90 minutes with 10 players. Even with 10 players, we were able to create chances and maybe win the game. It was a very tough and balanced challenge, and tomorrow [Tuesday, December 12] will be the same. It's up to us to be effective in the attack, to take care of Salzburg's counter-attacks, their moments of transition, because they're very good at that, they're always looking for it. In reality, our approach is the same as always. Whenever we go out on the pitch, we want to win games and score goals. If we score the first goal, we always go for the second goal to decide the game. Our approach is very natural, and we're ready for this game.

You coached the Salzburg team between 2012 and 2014. How does it feel to be back in this city?

I'm completely focused on the game. Of course, it's a special feeling to be back in this city, where I left in 2014. I haven't had many opportunities to come back, those were good times. It's a great city and a great team, but I'm focused on the game.