"If Benfica calls you, you can't say no"

INTERVIEW

Football and Benfica are part of a dream that is coming true in the life of Pavlidis, the 25-year-old Greek international striker who will wear the Sacred Mantle with the ambition of offering what he does best: goals. The team's collective and personal goals, the Champions League and sharing ideas with coach Roger Schmidt are some of the topics covered in Pavlidis' first interview.

Pavlidis knows well the history, past and present, of Benfica, "one of the biggest clubs in the world", and he wants to write his name on it.

The choice of a new career move was easy because, as he assured in an interview with BTV, "Benfica is Benfica", a club with passionate fans. "Passion is very important in football. If you play football, you have to be passionate about what you do. If you don't have passion, you won't be able to achieve your goals. And I think that's Benfica's power. It's a great club, and it wouldn't be a great club without the fans. That shows how big Benfica is. Without the fans you can't guarantee achievements. I hope they help us next season," said the striker.

How we say Vangelis Pavlidis?

What do you know about the new club?

I know it's one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I know it's huge. I know it has a lot of fans who love the club.

You are the eighth Greek player to play for Benfica, and you know there are good memories for the fans. Do you know some of the Greek players who have played for Benfica?

Yes, of course, I know some of the players who played here – and I also know some of them personally – like Samaris, Odysseas [Vlachodimos], Katsouranis, Karagounis, Fyssas, Mitroglou... Maybe there are more, but I can't remember.

In recent seasons you've shown us the best Pavlidis. Do you feel this is the perfect time to accept this change in your life?

I had good years in the Netherlands, I wanted to take the next step, and I think for my career the best step would be to come to Benfica, to play for a big club, to show my best, to improve as a player and personally. Benfica is the best club for my career to develop. As a player and also in personal terms, in terms of personality.

Which were the main reasons for signing for Benfica?

Benfica is Benfica! If Benfica calls you, you can't say no. When I heard that Benfica was interested in me, I immediately felt the excitement of being able to represent this great club, of being able to play in this incredible stadium and in front of the many fans that the club has. It's a pleasure to be the next Greek to play here.

You left your home country of Greece at a very young age to play in Germany. Then you played in the Netherlands. Can these life experiences help you in this new adventure in Portugal?

Yes, I left home when I was 16. I experienced a difficult path and learned a lot in Germany and in the Netherlands. Now I have a lot of experience, because I've been playing professional football for six or seven years, training with good players, good coaches, so it's the right time to take the next step in my career. I hope that what I've learned over the last six or seven years will help me prove to everyone that I can play at this level.

You played against PSV, then coached by Roger Schmidt, on four occasions. You know the coach's ideas. Was that an important factor in your decision to join Benfica?

Yes, I knew the coach because I played against him, and it was always a pleasure to play against him because they were always good games. It's really important because I know him personally, because I played against his team, and now I'm excited because I'm going to be coached by him. I know he's a coach who wants us to play good football, to score goals, to play really attractive, offensive football, to have a strong positional game and to press high up the pitch. That's a very important aspect of my game, that's why I love playing and that's why I'm here.

You have played in different tactical systems. What can you bring and add to Benfica?

Yes, I've played in different positions over the last few years. Number 9, number 10, left winger, but yes, my current position is number 9, and I think that's why the people at Benfica chose me. I hope I can help the team with my pressing ability and with the passion that all Greek players have. And, of course, the number 9 position is really important, and the most important thing to do is to score goals and assist my teammates. I'd love to do that. Do my best for the team and, of course, score goals.

Perhaps in Portugal the defensive systems are a little more conservative than in the Netherlands. How will you quickly adapt to this new reality?

It's really important that, from my first day when the team comes together in pre-season, I take my time to understand the tactics and the coach, what he wants from me... I'd love to adapt as quickly as possible. Sometimes it takes days, sometimes it takes months, but I'd love to do my best. And I'm really going to do my best to adapt as quickly as possible, because I'm here to achieve our goals, both collectively and personally.

Last season, you were the top scorer in the Eredivisie. That gives you status, but also responsibility. How do you deal with that?

A striker always wants to score goals. You have to look for the right moment and the right team to do it. I think I have that ability, I'll do my best. There's the pressure of being a number 9 at Benfica and having to score goals, but that's the job of a striker. I'll do my best to achieve the goals. Of course, the last year is the last year, and now I'm starting at a new club, in a new country. I'll do my best to carry on as I finished last season.

You will be playing in the Champions League for Benfica this season. This is an important factor in a player's career...

Absolutely. Benfica is a club that plays in the Champions League every year, or at least the Europa League. It's an important aspect for me and my career. If you're a 15-year-old player, you dream of playing in front of 65,000 people on a Champions League night. It's a dream, and football is a dream for me. Being here is also a dream for me.

What is your main purpose or goal now that you've signed for Benfica?

I can feel directly how much people love Benfica, and I want, at the very least, to make people happy, to make Benfica fans happy. And, of course, to win every weekend. That's my goal. I hope everything goes well and that we achieve good things together. That we win trophies together.

When you hear the "Benfica", what words immediately come to your mind?

Champions League and trophies. Words that connect well with Benfica.