"We know what we have to do to win"

PREVIEW

Benfica faces Monaco on Wednesday, November 27, on matchday 5 of the league phase of the Champions League. Aware of the importance of the match, the Eagles will have to be at the top of their game at the Stade Louis II, focused from start to finish and able to give the game everything it demands.

What are your expectations for this game?

It's a very important game for us, as all the others have been, because three points are at stake, and we want to win those three points. We're halfway through the competition and we know that every point is precious. 

What Benfica team can the fans expect, is there unity in the dressing room?

Yes, the team is motivated, we're very confident, and we're sure of what we're doing, because the work is being done well, the results have been obvious to everyone, and what we want to do is keep going, as I said before. It's a special game for me because it's a place that welcomed me very well when I left Benfica, on my first time away, so I want to continue what we've been doing, which is to get a good result.

How important is it to pick up points tomorrow [Wednesday], taking into account the calculations that will be made in this Champions League qualifier, and to maintain this level of performance?

Football is made up of ups and downs, and right now we're confident, and we know what we have to do to win the three points tomorrow [Wednesday]. The football the team has been playing - not just the first team, but all the players, even the substitutes, because they're the ones who help us be prepared for the game - has been very good, and we want to continue that, because we know that the good results we've had previously won't do any good if we don't get a good result tomorrow [Wednesday].

How do you think your game has improved since Bruno Lage came in?

I think it's not just my game that has improved, but the team has become more confident, more attacking. Not to belittle the football we were playing before, it's different, both are good, but the team is now scoring a lot of goals, conceding fewer, and that's the path we want to continue on. 

How do you look at Monaco, which has yet to lose in the Champions League?

They're a very balanced team, they're young, they have a lot of quality, and their results have shown that, in the French league they've had good results, even in the Champions League, so we know that we have to be at our best, we have to be focused from start to finish, and be attentive to the smallest details in order to win the game.