“Benfica is something you have inside your body and soul”

INTERVIEW

With the Ukrainian international's 50 games for Benfica as a motto, Trubin and José Henrique, the legendary Zé Gato, embarked on a challenging interview with the club's media, which spanned several remarkable eras in the Eagles' goal. Two hearts that beat faster when it comes to the overwhelming feeling for the Glorioso.

From goalkeeper to goalkeeper, the conversation was marked by revelations, stories and, above all, the privilege of representing an institution as big as Benfica. 

A love at first sight that became an essential part of Zé Gato's life and left Trubin overwhelmed. “For me... Benfica is something that you have inside your body and soul, because when you wear this shirt you understand that behind you there are, I don't know, millions of people who love this club and you must give not 100%, but 1000% to win, to make the people happy," confided the current Red keeper.

From adapting to the demands of the club to lamenting the conflict raging in Ukraine, as well as his day-to-day life in Portugal, several topics were also covered in this relaxed and mystical interview.

Zé Gato: First of all, congratulations. What does it mean to reach this milestone of 50 games at a club like Benfica?

Trubin: First of all, thank you so much. For me, it's a pleasure and a great honor to play 50 games for such a big club. Of course I want to have more and more and I'm very focused on this. I'm hunger for more matches and more wins for our club.

ZG: You arrived at Benfica a year ago, for the 2023/2024 season. Who was the first person to tell you about the chance of joining Benfica? How did you react?

T: When I first came it was a little difficult because everything was new for me, a new country, new players, new coaches... It was a tough time, I was a little nervous, but at the same time it was perfect to develop yourself, to meet new friends, new partners. I was happy at the time and the first person I met was obviously the coach, the mister. I spoke to him before the Super Cup and, as I said, I was very happy.

ZG: Representing a club like Benfica... For me, it's the best club in the world.

T: For sure, for sure.

ZG: Out of these 50 games, if you had to choose one, which one marked you the most?

T: It's tough, it's tough... But I think... Of course I'd choose the first game and maybe an away game against Braga [SCB-SLB, 0-1, 17/12/2023].

ZG: The first game is always a memorable one in our lives, isn't it?

T: You have a lot of thoughts in your head, you're very nervous, but it is stuck on your mind for life.

ZG: Tell me about September 16, 2023, your debut with the Benfica jersey against Vizela.

T: So many thoughts, a bit of nervousness, but everything calmed down after the whistle. I just played the game, enjoyed every minute, every second, because I know that this is one of the best clubs in the world, the best in Portugal. It's a huge responsibility and we have to be ready.

ZG: I succeeded one of the best goalkeepers Benfica ever had, Costa Pereira. He was European champion twice. And I was succeeded by Manuel Bento, a great friend and a great Benfica legend. I had the privilege of succeeding Costa Pereira, receiving the number 1 Benfica jersey from the hands of the sacred monster that he was, which was also my start at Benfica. In 1966. After the '66 World Cup.

T: How did you feel?

ZG: I felt so... so very small. Just like normal. Costa Pereira was almost two meters tall and I was one meter seventy-four. Nowadays, I wouldn't be a goalkeeper. Not at Benfica or anywhere else. And I managed to overcome all of that and become Benfica's starting goalkeeper for 11 years.

T: It's always in our hands. You can be tall or small, it depends on your work, your wish, so I think height doesn't matter.

ZG: Naturally, and even more so in my day, there were no goalkeeping coaches like there are now. It was more difficult for us to learn this position in a football team, which is a special position. The position of the goalkeeper.

T: But you have a good nickname: the "Cat". I think it says a lot...

ZG: My story at Benfica is a beautiful one because, in the past, at Estância de Madeira, which was Benfica's old field, there were trials Benfica. When the coach, who was an Argentinian, Valdivieso, 200, 300 kids would go there in the morning to train for Benfica. And he asked: “Goalkeepers?”. I put my hand up to be a goalkeeper and he looked at me and said: “Hey, kid, go eat steaks at home, you're too short”. And I felt disappointed, but the next day, instead of being a goalkeeper, I was a right-back. At that time, when Benfica's seniors didn't have training, they had to come to Campo Grande to watch the U19s training sessions. The coach José Augusto, Coluna, Artur Santos and José Águas grabbed me and took me to the athletics and rugby fields to play with me. And I started saving the ball. Valdivieso, who was watching the training, noticed it, and when the training was over he told me to go to the goal, to stop the U19's shots. I did my job, I saved what I saved, that was what I knew how to do. In short: he told me to wait. I showered, I waited, he took me to Benfica's headquarters, which was in Restauradores, to sign contract with Benfica. (...) My history at Benfica was like that.

T: It's a perfect story.

ZG: Who was your favorite goalkeeper as a child?

T: When I was a child I think it was Edwin van der Sar because I saw a lot of his games... And maybe Andriy Pyatov because I'm Ukrainian.

ZG: I know you had a dream of playing at the Donbass Arena, a stadium that was hit by the war. Is it frustrating that you never got to play there?

T: Yes, for sure. It's a painful story, not only in my life, but also in the lives of many Ukrainians, especially the people of Donetsk. I hope, and it's one of my biggest dreams, to play with the national team or Benfica in the Champions League at the Donbass Arena. I really hope it can happen in the future.

ZG: Tell us a bit about yourself outside football. What's your day off like? Are you enjoying living in Lisbon?

T: Actually, I really like to stay at home, but my bride likes to go out with me, so I follow her and we go for a walk somewhere. We live near the ocean and I really like to walk close to the ocean and have some coffee. I try to do everything to make my mind fresh for the next games and training sessions.

ZG: You got to come with me to Costa da Caparica. (...) We'll go for a cup of coffee.

T: Yes, Yes. (…) Of course.

ZG: We know you're learning Portuguese, how difficult has it been? What can you say?

T: I can speak Portuguese, but just a little. I think... I can speak, but simple words.

ZG: It's a difficult language...

T: Yes, yes, but on the pitch, this season, it's easier for me to talk to the players.

ZG: Your country is going through a very difficult time at the moment. What has it been like to live with such sad news on a daily basis?

T: For me it's a little bit... Not a little bit, it's very difficult because I'm watching the news all the time, I speak to my family about what happened and what didn't happen. It's tough, very tough for me. I really want to go there because I miss my home, like Ukrainian food, my friends... But now is not the best time. I miss it, but we have here a lot of Ukrainians and the Portuguese who are very kind and help us with everything.

ZG:  I had the privilege of being in Kiev. I really enjoyed it, but that's the way things go and we have to look forward.

T: What I can say about Kyiv is that it's one of the best cities in the world. When everything is finished, I invite you to visit because everything is perfect there. Not everything, but almost.

ZG: At Benfica you've had the chance to play at the Luz and in stadiums full of Benfiquistas. Is it special to play more than 400 kilometers away from Lisbon and always have a red sea waiting? Were you surprised that there was always a Benfiquista wherever you went?

T: When I only came here, yes. It was a surprise for me. You play a lot of games away, but it's like a home game because you can see our fans everywhere wearing the red Benfica jersey. It was a surprise for me. Sometimes you think you play a home game, but at another stadium.

ZG: I've had that experience myself. In every corner of the world, there was always at least one Benfica fan. There are Benfiquistas everywhere.

T: In pre-season we played away games in other countries, but the stadium was full of Benfica fans and it's crazy. Crazy, in a perfect way.

ZG: When you listen to the Benfica anthem, what do you feel?

T: It's like... You know, goosebumps! And I also like when the match is in the evening. It's dark, and when the lights turn off, and after with the red lights, it's red everywhere. And the fans cheering... It's crazy, it's special!

ZG: Tell us how a player experiences the arrival of the bus at the stadium... The ride, always with lots of fans, lots of support...

T: For me it's always part of football. Maybe two hours or an hour and a half before the game, the streets are full of our fans and, for me, it's the same, inside or outside the stadium. Goosebumps. You feel the atmosphere even outside the stadium.

ZG: It's chilling, isn't it?

T: Yes, Yes.

ZG: In conclusion, tell me what Benfica means to you...

T: For me... Benfica is something that you have inside your body and soul, because when you wear this shirt you understand that behind you there are, I don't know, millions of people who love this club and you must give not 100%, but 1000% to win, to make the people happy. And of course, there's a huge pressure, but it's amazing because this is football. And the fans at the stadium, amazing all the time, supporting us and for me it's something I've never had before. And what does it mean for you?

ZG: For me, Benfica is my father, my mother, my family, I grew up here. I first came to Benfica in 1959 and I'm still here today. When I talk about Benfica, I never have words. What I feel is: Benfica owes me nothing and I owe Benfica everything. If I am what I am today, I can thank Benfica, so for me Benfica is everything in my life.

T: So it's your first love.

ZG: I spend more time here at Benfica than at home.

T: It's always like that.

ZG: My wife will pack my bags any day. I spend more time at Benfica than at home.

T: I understand it.

ZG: Keep playing, keep training because we can only be good when we work and we have to work harder every day to be better. And that's what I wish for you, that you stay with Benfica for a long time.

T: Thank so much for your kind words. It's a pleasure for me to meet you, to get to know you better as a huge Benfica legend, especially from goalkeeper to goalkeeper.