"We're 100 percent with the coach"

PREVIEW

As their captain Otamendi pointed out in his preview of the Turin clash, scheduled for 8 pm on Wednesday, January 29, Benfica will play Juventus with a “winning mentality” to seal qualification for the Champions League play-off.

How does the team view Juventus and this match, which is the last in this stage of the Champions League?

With the mentality that it's a Champions League game, a beautiful match, against a great rival. The important thing is to get our tactical functions right, to do well in general. Play a good game so that we can qualify for the play-off and try to progress.

Did you get a chance to listen to the audio of Benfica coach Bruno Lage talking to the Benfica fans? Or did you have the chance to read the words the Benfica coach said to the fans? What did you think when you heard criticism of players who don't jump for the ball, or who don't take three touches in a row? What were your thoughts on that?

No, I haven't heard anything. I think it's a problem that we have to put aside. Today, our mindset is on tomorrow's match [Wednesday], which is an important game for us. Trying to do things well, to qualify for the play-offs, which is a clear objective. As I said after the match with Casa Pia, we need to self-criticize and improve. Obviously, losing 3-1 away from home... we didn't give a good image, being Benfica, and I think we have to correct that at home, try to demand the maximum in training, maximum concentration in defense and offense, and improve. When we lose, we have to try to focus more on the details, and I think we'll have that opportunity tomorrow... Playing every 3/4 days gives us the chance to rest the next day, and on the 2nd day to focus on the next match, and tomorrow we have a great match to look forward to, which is the most important thing for us.

Yes, 100 percent. We know what we have to improve, we know what we have to correct. The disgust of our fans is normal, when we don't win, when we don't have positive results... in this heated way, with this disgust. We understand that we have to improve on the pitch, try to do it well, win, which is obviously what counts in football, and put on a great show for the fans, who are the ones who pay for the tickets and who give us encouragement every weekend. Our aim is to win tomorrow, add to our tally and get through to the play-off.

As team captain, can you guarantee that the players are with the coach?

One hundred percent! As I said, both the coaching staff and the players are focused on turning the situation around, and that's why I'm saying that tomorrow is a great opportunity to play good football. And, in general terms, to do things well, which will give us a lot more motivation for the rest of the season.