"Prepare for the final in the best possible way, because we want to win"

POST-MATCH

Pleased with a "very good display" in the semi-final of the League Cup, in the match that pitted Benfica against Braga (3-0) on Wednesday, January 8, at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria - Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Bruno Lage looked ahead to the final, making it clear that the Eagles' aim is to “win” the derby.

MATCH ANALYSIS: GOOD FROM START TO FINISH

"A good first half and a good second half. Once again we started the game very strongly, and in the fourth minute we had the first chance. We managed to extend that good start to the game, over time, and the result was the three goals we scored. The main idea for this game was for us to go in and for our opponents to feel that they were playing the second half of the Estádio da Luz [Liga Betclic matchday 17, against Braga], and that's already the motto for the next game, in the final, to go in and feel that Sporting are playing us in the second half of the Estádio José Alvalade [Liga Betclic matchday 16]." 

AMBITION TO WIN

"Now we have to prepare for the final in the best possible way, because we want to win. So look at what we did today [Wednesday, January 8], learn from what we did three days ago with this opponent, and the team performed very well, put in a very good display, and now we have another chance to face Sporting in three days' time. And what we want most is to win a title that has eluded Benfica since 2016.  Playing every three days, teams have to know how to recover, they have to be very intense, because we're playing opponents and we have to give credit where credit is due. So we have to be prepared, be a strong team and a strong squad to compete. This isn't going to click, because this team works hard, works well, has players of enormous quality and, as has already happened, fresh and determined, we're the team that plays a lot of football and has the hunger to win games."

"Sometimes you have to be here and take responsibility. One of the things I'm aware of is that I always have to defend my players, but I never run away from reality. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's to prepare well for matches, analyze things concretely, and tell my players when things are going well and when they're not. But then there's this side to it: I like to protect my players, have them throw bullets at me so that they're calm, comfortable, understand what's going on in the real world and then put in performances like that. So what was important - and because we're always learning - was to look at the game, learn, refresh the team with energy, and also surprise our opponents. I think we did it perfectly, we didn't win anything, we only got through the semi-final, and we want to play in the final as soon as possible."

SCHJELDERUP AND OPPORTUNITIES

"I always push myself to the limit and people with me have to push themselves to the limit, because of the way I work, the way I train and the way I prepare for games. That's what I want from the players. We came here in September - I don't want to repeat what I said before - we had a first plan, we succeeded, now what I feel is that as we work with the players, it's also important for them to know what we want, what it's like to play Benfica style, what it's like to always play with tremendous responsibility, so that's what I want. Every moment, every opportunity, what Andreas [Schjelderup] did today, what Barreiro has done when he plays, when he comes on, and today he didn't play... It's about the players being available to the coach and being able to respond.  [Will Schjelderup's display help him get more chances?] Of course, like Barreiro, like Zeki [Amdouni]. Anyway, that's what I want. Also, with time, to get to know the players better, for the players to get to know the ideas better, and it's important that they all understand what it's like to play the Benfica way.The winning mentality comes from me, from the sequence I want of winning games, and for them, I have to feel that there has to be a champion's mentality here, of playing Benfica style. That's why we're here today, we're happy with the result we got, but what we want most now is to win the title on Saturday against Sporting"