"Giving a response at home"

João Mário wore the captain's armband in Famalicão-Benfica (2-0) on Matchday 1 of the Liga Betclic 2024/25 and gave an account of the red team's desire to react to the false start to the season in the next game.

In the flash interview at the end of the match at the Estádio Municipal Famalicão, the midfielder commented on the match with which the club opened the official season.

"Physically, we weren't up to the standard of the game... Work, keep working. We've got a long season ahead of us, it was a good game for us to realize that, and to think about the next game now," said the number 20.

Listen to João Mário

Asked what he thought didn't go well in Famalicão, João Mário said: "We weren't as reactive, as pressing as we usually are, and we paid the price because we conceded two goals. As I said, we're at the beginning, we thought we were good for this game, but it's an eye-opener. We have to work harder and harder to get to the next game on Saturday and give a response at home [against Casa Pia]."

In conclusion, João Mário was clear about the direction: "There are 33 games to go, there's a whole league to go, to think that this game or this first matchday is going to decide anything... The pressure at this club is daily, we're under pressure to win the league, not because of today's game."