"Give a response in the League Cup"

POST-MATCH

In his analysis of the Benfica-SC Braga match (1-2), on matchday 17 of the Liga Betclic, held this Saturday, January 4, at Estádio da Luz, Bruno Lage lamented the fact that the Eagles were less effective than the chances they created.

As he also pointed out at the press conference, the focus is already on winning the next game against Braga, in the semi-final of the League Cup, on Wednesday, January 8, in Leiria.

"The conversation was along those lines, with the players. Right now, there's no point in thinking too much about what happened. Only we can turn the situation around, we as a coaching staff, we as players, me fundamentally as a leader, and give a response now. What we want is to beat Braga in the next game, eliminate Braga and be in the final of the League Cup," he claimed.

GAME ANALYSIS

"It wasn't the first half we would have liked. When I look at the first half and the whole game, I feel we have an obligation to score more goals than we did today [Saturday, January 4]. We created several chances, but we have to score goals. Even looking at the chances SC Braga had in the first half and ours, they're very similar: Pavlidis' chance and [Fran] Navarro's, we didn't score. The situation with the corner, we also had a very similar opportunity, but we didn't score. Then we played a completely different second half, we practically dominated. With the changes, we kept growing and gave the team positive energy. We created several chances again, but at the moment, in this game, the goals didn't come. And points are won with goals. It's also a fact that we have to look at the way we conceded these goals. We have to look at it, analyze it well, because these are things we can't do again."

THE GOALS THAT TRANSFORM GAMES

"Especially in my first few games, at some point we conceded first at home. So there's no logical reason to look at that. I like to look at the game as a whole. It's not about strategy. The way we play, what we achieve, we have to score more goals, because goals change the game; the way the team gets chances and doesn't score, doesn't change the game."

LOOK AHEAD

"The important thing is that we were all Benfica in the second half. The team really played well, tried to look for the goal, with the fantastic support of our fans, that's what was important. We were all Benfica, we tried to turn the game around. This team has managed to turn over the scorers several times. We didn't manage it today. We have to look forward and, in three or four days' time [Wednesday, January 8], beat the same opponent to be in the final of the League Cup." 

ADD ENERGY AND QUALITY

"[Decisive impact of the opponent's first goal?] No, I don't see it that way. I see that the team wanted to do well, to try to create chances and score goals. You said it well, we had a great first chance to score. Braga scored. Then, in a set-piece situation, we conceded the goal and the score was 0-2. The team was strong, capable and, with the changes we made, we always added energy and quality, looking for space between the lines, trying to play and putting a man in behind the striker to look for that space and create finishing situations. We created several chances. What's most important to note - and it's very important that we feel it - today we had an obligation to win this game. The game is won with goals. As we get chances, we have to score them. [Anxiety when it comes to finishing] No, I didn't feel the team was nervous. I felt the team was energetic, dynamic and had the speed to play a good second half against an opponent who is also strong and competent."