“The team is responding well”

PREVIEW

In the preview of Red Star-Benfica this Thursday, September 19, Florentino revealed that the Reds will take to the field with a winning mentality in what will be the first step towards a clear objective: progressing to the next stage of the Champions League. 

Benfica are making their debut in this new Champions League format. To what extent can this change influence the strategy for this game?

We're going into every game in the same way. Of course, it's a new format, with more teams, I think it gives the teams a bit more leeway, because in the other format, if the team had one or two bad games, it was difficult to get through. But our goal will always be the same: to win every game, score and get as many points as possible so that we can reach the next round.

You scored two goals in your career, curiously coached by the man next to you [Bruno Lage]. Does that bring you luck? And what kind of atmosphere do you expect in the stadium tomorrow [Thursday]?

I hope so. If it continues like this, it's good for me, it's good for the team, it's good for everyone. And the atmosphere we're expecting here is a complicated one, because we know that the fans are very fervent, we know that they help and push the team forward a lot. But our mentality is always the same. We're going to play our game, and I think our game will speak for us. We'll go in with a good tempo.

How is the group experiencing this new Champions League format, and how important is this first game against Red Star, given Benfica's schedule in this competition and the opponents they face?

Our group is very competitive and, knowing that we're not only competing against the teams we're playing, but also against the others, we know that we can't drop points, because all the teams want to score. It was a bit strange at first, when we didn't know the format yet, but once they explained the rules to us, everything became simpler. It's good for us, because we get more Champions League games, we get more competitive games, and that's what we want.

What do you expect from the Red Star team? Are Benfica favorites for this match?

Favorite or not, I don't know. I can't say who is favorite or not. But what we're expecting, as I said earlier, is a very tense atmosphere, an atmosphere in which they're going to push the team, but we're prepared for that. We've played in several stadiums where the atmosphere was similar. What we want to do is get away from the atmosphere and play our football.

Do you feel more comfortable in the 4x3x3 that Bruno Lage used in the last game?

They're different tactics, and in every tactic that any coach gives us, I try to adapt. Now it's an adaptation, and I think the team is responding well. The result of that was the last game.

What's the difference between Roger Schmidt's midfield and Bruno Lage's?

The time with Roger Schmidt was very good, we learned a lot and had some good things happen, but that's behind us now, and what we're focused on is enjoying the new manager who's here, doing what he tells us to do, and trying to pick up all the ideas to play attractive, attacking football.