“We're ready for the game”

PREVIEW

It is Benfica team determined to “play a great game” that will show up at the Estádio José Alvalade this Sunday, December 29, for the clash with Sporting on matchday 16 of the  Liga Betclic, scheduled for 8:30 pm. That's what coach Bruno Lage praised in his preview of the derby, held this Saturday at Benfica Campus.

What are your expectations for the derby in Alvalade?

We have the best expectations. We know it's a derby, we know how important the game is for us and for our fans. That's why our focus - and we're ready for it - is to play a great game and win.

Which Sporting do you expect, given the doubt that exists, especially in defense? Do you expect a line of three central defenders or four defenders? Has this doubt, also in relation to the system - and even with Sporting's new coach - made it more difficult for Benfica to prepare for this game? Can you also clarify whether you have Fredrik Aursnes for the match?

We're expecting three central defenders. Now, whether they're three declared central defenders or not, we'll see. We can play three central defenders, possibly a full-back on one side. We've prepared for the game in the best way possible. We've looked at Sporting's own dynamics and also, of course, at the new coach's way of looking at the game, and tried to understand what dynamics we're going to find. So we're going to find a team that likes to have the ball, that will want to press high and, at the same time, the characteristics that we've seen over the years: Gyökeres attacking very well from deep; Trincão dropping back to link up play, being able to play between the lines, always keeping it wide; having two midfielders with enormous building capacity, the captain and Morita, to try and link up play. This is going to be the game, that's what we're ready for. We feel very ready, and we're all ready for the game, except for Tiago Gouveia.

You've already talked about a big game coming up and a very important game. Is it worth more than three points, given Benfica's current position as league leaders? On the other hand, is there instability in the team because of two players who have been authorized to go to Argentina, and one of them has made two trips? There's instability in the choices, due to possible attrition from there, and also, on the other hand, in António Silva? The central defender's agent says he wants to go to Juventus and that Juventus want him. Could that upset the atmosphere in the team before a game like this?

You asked almost all the questions at the press conference [laughs]. You're not going to leave anything for your colleagues... your colleague from CMTV has already raised his hand three times, I'm sure he wants to talk about the trip to Argentina too... Let's break it down. No, I think it's three points, especially at this point in the league. They're three points that are important for us, and also important for Sporting. It's like I said after the game against Estoril: we wanted to spend Christmas in 1st [place], we certainly want to spend New Year's Eve, and all the parties coming up, in 1st, but the most important party is the one at the end. I'd probably let your colleague from CMTV ask the question and answer them both straight away, because I already know what Argentina's topic is...

What was it like preparing for the derby in two days, knowing that Otamendi spent more than 50 hours traveling by plane? In the derby, would you rather face João Pereira's Sporting or Rui Borges?

When we feel we have to take time off, we take time off. This team hasn't had many days off, and we gave the players three days off after the game [against Estoril on December 23] so they could spend Christmas with their families. The 24th and 25th had already been set. The extra day in these accounts, because normally we don't have anything planned... After a win, the players are waiting for us in the dressing room and we can possibly give them a day off to recover. In December, we're going into our 7th game... We had consecutive matches, every three days, with very little time off. We argued that the players, all of them, deserved to spend Christmas with their families. On the 26th, my coaching staff and I were here [at Benfica Campus] working, preparing for Rui Borges' Sporting. That's the first point. The second situation, which is the trip to Argentina authorized by me - let's be clear about that - is the management I've been doing with the players. I'm not interested in how long they've been in flight, I'm interested in having the players physically and mentally available to play what they've been playing. I don't know if Record is here, but it was curious that today [the newspaper] went to someone who is an expert, who is well known, and who has worked at Real Madrid, to clarify publicly that the days, the trips... the players have no problems at all, they are ready to play. It's not that we, on the inside, didn't know, but it's important that someone from outside, someone of renown, clarifies the matter. What do I see from the players? I see two players committed to their work, with a huge ambition to help Benfica win titles. So if tomorrow [Sunday] there's a poor result, if you want to link it to the fact that two people have traveled to Argentina, I'll be here to take the blame without any problem. But what's more important is the way I've managed these players. Four months ago, the first time I sat here in front of you [journalists], it was that Nico [Otamendi] had to leave, there was no chance of keeping him - your question was “When is he leaving”. And that Di María was a problem for the team. In the last game [against Nacional], Di María won more balls back than Tino [Florentino], and he's scored a lot of goals that have helped us win. And Nico [Otamendi] has put in some very good performances. This is my way of managing the players, the group, and what I feel is that we're a very big family, that we have enormous determination and will, and we're ready for tomorrow's game [Sunday].

Jorge Mendes, António Silva's agent, says the player wants to leave Benfica and play for Juventus. Has António Silva told you that he wants to leave Benfica to play for Juventus? Is that the kind of problem you could do without at a time like this?

For us, it's not a problem at all, for two reasons: firstly, nobody has spoken to me about it; secondly, I see a player who is completely focused on Benfica. Just yesterday [Friday, December 27] we worked on several specific situations in his position, both on the right and on the left, so that he could understand both positions better and better, and he trained motivated and completely focused. I see that, very determined to help Benfica become champions. I'll even take the opportunity to talk a little about that situation, because from what I can see, it would be a loan situation. I look at the three central defenders in the same way. I'll give you the example of the three central defenders, the way I see our squad... Nico [Otamendi] has a market, Tomás Araújo certainly has a market, and António [Silva] also has a market. At the end of the season, those without contracts may be free to decide their future, those with contracts have termination clauses. So there's one thing that's certain, and it's what I stand for, which is this: whoever wants Sport Lisboa e Benfica players has to come with a wallet, and in recent years they've come with a wallet full of money. Things will happen, they've happened in the past with several players, they'll happen in the future, for sure, with António [Silva] or Tomás [Araújo]. What is important and what we have to value - and we can't sell that - is our training center and the way the players develop to play in the first team. That's out of the question, we can't sell. The rest, depending on what the market is... the big teams, with huge financial power, come here, convince the player, pay the clause and the player leaves.

What videos did you show the players in preparation for this match? Rúben Amorim's Sporting, João Pereira's Sporting or Rui Borges' Vitória SC? Do you feel you're the favorite for this derby?

We showed photographs of similar positions in the three situations, and curiously it was exactly that, because there are a lot of similarities with Sporting's Rúben Amorim and João Pereira; he often didn't defend with the five, he defended with the four; Vitória also defended like that with Rui [Borges]. That's why the most important thing is that we're prepared for what our dynamic is, but in terms of strategic issues, we've been looking for a bit of that, similar positioning in the various areas of the pitch. It doesn't matter who the favorites are, what matters is that we feel ready to play a great game. 

Do you feel you've come at the right time to face Sporting this season, a team that has just lost the lead, is already on its second change of coach and is naturally more fragile? Will victory end up shaking one of the main rivals for the title even more?

What's important is what we've done so far. I like challenges and I feel that Sporting, regardless of results, is a strong team, and what I want is to play against strong teams, because that's what our players like, that's what our players want. You can slightly feel the difference when these challenges happen. Our players are ready, and that's the most important thing. Now we're up against a great team, a great coach, and we're strong for it and want the game to come as soon as possible.