“The team was very serious in its approach to the game”

POST-MATCH

In its analysis of Pevidém-Benfica (0-2), in the 3rd round of the Portuguese Cup played this Saturday, October 19, Bruno Lage highlighted the “seriousness” shown by the team from the opening whistle.

SATISFACTION WITH THE SERIOUSNESS AND QUALITY OF THE TEAM

"in what we did throughout the 90 minutes. Above all, the start of the game. We had a good start, in the first 15 to 20 minutes we created two or three chances in which we could have scored another goal. We came back very well in the second half. The players who came on as substitutes once again helped the team maintain its quality until the end, and we even had the chance to debut another boy from our Academy, Gerson [Sousa]. So when I look at what we did for 90 minutes and what we did in preparation for the game, I feel satisfied. The team was very serious in its approach to the game. Then, of course, there was an opponent - we knew this, because we'd analyzed the league game and the Portuguese Cup game against Marítimo - who were very serious and very competent defensively, but our team had the ability to try and pin our opponents back in the box. We always controlled one transition or another in attacking terms, but our opponent's excellent performance made our victory all the more valuable."

VERY WELL WORKED PLAY FOR THE FIRST GOAL

"Depending on the opponent's system, we played in a slightly different way, with a different positioning. What we wanted most was the example of the goal [0-1], which is one of the wingers crossing for the other wing to finish. We worked a lot on this type of movement and also on the striker's movements. We did that during the week, because we knew that the three central midfielders control the airspace very well and that the line of five knows how to close down spaces well. We had to be very serious, make the moves and always play at a very high tempo. That's why I see the game as a mission accomplished, because we knew what was ahead of us and how difficult the game would be, but the team was serious, the players were serious, and we're satisfied with that."

CONSISTENCY AS THE KEY WORD

"Unity, yes. They have taken a very significant step forward. They're more united and communicative with each other. And that's important. It's also worth noting that, at the same time as I arrived, several players arrived and were very well received and integrated by everyone, particularly the team captains. As for the dynamic... it's a process. This is the sixth game we've played. We have to look back and realize that there was a long period when we didn't compete. We prepared for this game with a training match in midweek and with the players who were available. It's a process, we have to keep going, look at the Atlético [Madrid] game and realize that there are things we did very well. What I want most is for the team to repeat the good moments more often, both attacking and defending. In a word, it's consistency. I want the players to understand the way we've worked over the last two weeks, both the coaching staff and everyone around them. We took this game seriously. It's in the little habits that we make our way to consistency. That's what we have to work for. That's my demand, to be consistent in our work, because that way we'll repeat what we've done well more often."

OPORTUNIDADES DE CRESCIMENTO

"[Schjelderup] had a very good start. We tried to play with two men out there. In the first half, with Benji [Rollheiser] and Zeki [Amdouni], and then with Schjelderup coming on. Zeki [Amdouni] had a very good game with the national team. He started on the right, finished on the left, and we saw that game. We considered leaving him out, but as he hadn't played a game for Benfica yet, we decided to bring him in. What we had for him was to play 45 minutes, and then Schjelderup came on, who did well and linked up very well. At half-time, we swapped Tino's [Florentino] position with Fredrik's [Aursnes], and on the left there were some very good three-man combinations: Fredrik [Aursnes], Schjelderup and Beste - and [Álvaro] Carreras came on. The most important thing is that. The players don't feel that these are one-off opportunities, but rather opportunities to grow, regardless of whether things go less well, which wasn't the case. Opportunities will come their way, as long as they keep looking for the consistency I strive for every day in training."