"A fair victory, and the fans felt the unity of the team"

POST-MATCH

Bruno Lage was pleased with the team's “firmness” in Benfica against Moreirense (3-2), on matchday 21 of the Liga Betclic held this Saturday, February 8, at Estádio da Luz.

TEAM AND FANS IN SYMBIOSIS IN VICTORY

"A good game of football, and the support of the fans was fundamental. When the team played with the quality it did, the fans were with us; when we had to suffer, we all suffered together; the fans suffered with us and supported the team. And today [Saturday, February 8], we had two big objectives ahead of us as a team, and that's what we talked about before we went out onto the pitch. Firstly, to take a step towards winning the three points, and also to take a step towards the fans seeing what they saw in Turin, that the team is together, we're a family, what they saw at Estrela da Amadora and what they saw today. That's why the fans were with the team, and that was very important for today's victory. We had a very good start to the game... We scored three good goals, Moreirense scored a good goal. We were a bit hampered in managing the game from the bench by the two forced stoppages we made in the first half. We went into the 2nd half with just a moment to make our substitutions. We even considered making a few changes at half-time to freshen things up, because we knew we had to stay fresh and press hard at all times. Moreirense are a team that play well. However, the team finished well, and we held out until around the 60th/65th minute to make changes. Then the team grows, we have a good chance to score, I think we could have done a bit better at one point or another. I remember that Barreiro chance perfectly, we closed out the game with 4-1, and the titles would have been a 'safe win' for us. We still conceded a goal - and it's a fair win - which, in my opinion, we didn't deserve, the players, for what they did, didn't deserve, and for the support the fans gave us, they didn't deserve it. But that's what remains: three points, the support of the fans and the feeling that the team is united and that we're a family."

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF BENFICA

"[Aursnes said he expects a lot more from Benfica in the flash interview zone, do you agree?] Of course we do. We, everyone, expects a lot more from us. I'll give you an example. We beat Atlético Madrid 4-0 here. They were the worst Atlético Madrid team of all time. Atlético Madrid haven't lost since then, and right now, when I was coming here [to the press conference], they were winning 0-1 at the Bernabéu [in the derby with Real Madrid]. That's why the demand here is tremendous: the fans for us, me for the players, and the players for themselves. The players don't deserve - because of the game they've played, the way they went into the game, and what I said at the end - to concede these goals because of the work they do. That's why the demand has to be maximum, from the outside in, but with this support. Fantastic, demanding support, that's why we're Benfica, in that sense."

"[At the end of the game, Moreirense were attacking, Trubin was holding on to the ball, and the fans wanted Benfica to go ahead quickly, and the coach was asking the players to be calm about it. Have you thought about the play that gave Barcelona the winning goal here?] I wasn't thinking about anything. I just thought that sometimes you want a quick transition - it's a good question, because we're going to get into a football question, and I'm glad you're asking it - and at the moment the game was at, because it was a moment when we had to be together, we had to be compact. The team knew how to do that, especially from 3-2 onwards. It was important to understand the moment of the game. The game is coming to an end, so what's crucial? For the players to get into position and, from there, for us to go out and play. Even because, at a certain point, we felt that - because that was the objective - we didn't exploit Bruma's ability to attack deep enough, in one-on-one situations, and we could have done it differently. That's why it's good that you asked a football question, because it gives you the opportunity to explain a little about the objective of the change and the objective when we feel that the opponent is taking a lot of risks, and when they take a lot of risks to put us under pressure in such a way, we have to know that there are situations in which our forwards and our defenders are in one-on-one situations. Bruma's skill, ability and speed could be fundamental in helping the team move into attacking midfield. [Review of the 17 matchday in charge of Benfica] We've been in 1st place, we've reached 1st place quickly, we've left 1st place, we're going to reach 1st place."

PAVLIDIS' “VERY GOOD” WORK

"[Pavlidis has scored seven goals in his last five games: is this proof that his problem was more mental than technical?] MNot mentally. It's the player coming to terms with a new reality, understanding the Championship... Remember this, and it's happened to everyone. It happened to Seferovic, it happened to Vinícius, it happened to all the players. The demands here are very high, people expect a lot from us, and we expect a lot from the players. The players among them are also very demanding. That's Fredrik's [Aursnes] phrase, and it's a fantastic phrase from a player who has already understood the culture of the club very well. And that has to be something that everyone who comes from outside has to understand as soon as possible. Then, remember, it's the job. The player, Pavlidis, has always done a very good job. Whether it's the way the team defends, the way the team presses, the way the team forces the opponent to leave the goalkeeper. Sometimes there are different strategies, and he quickly understands the runs and movements he has to make to defend. In attack, he's always been a player with great quality in his movements, his assists, the way he combines with his teammates. He lacked goals, and right now he's enjoying a good moment. The goal brings confidence, but the confidence, in my opinion, comes from the sustained work he's put in since the start of the season."

GOALS CONCEDED BUILDING UP FROM THE BACK

"[Why and where to grow tactically in the first phase of the building up?] First, we have to keep working. And secondly - I think it's important that you touch on this - we have to understand the moment of the game. It's fundamental to understand the moment of the game. To understand how the opponent is doing. We have to feel that if the opponent is taking steps forward and conditioning us, we have to be unpredictable in our build-up. And then, at that moment, our intention was to try to get a ball in deep, a ball forward to hold up, to play support, to go down the opposite corridor. So here, with the score secure at 3-1, we could have done it that way. But a big team, with the quality of our players, has to keep coming out from the back, it has to keep playing well, because that gives us security in our game. Now we have to understand, fundamentally, the moment of the game, and the moment of the game depends on the result, on the time remaining, and also on how the opponent can come to press us, and leave situations and positions in the defensive line one-on-one."