"Total focus on Tirsense"

PREVIEW

Total focus on the next opponent and the mission to reach the final of the Portuguese Cup. This was the message given by Bruno Lage in the preview of Tirsense-Benfica this Wednesday, April 9 (8:45 pm), in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals.

Given the last few days of the Portuguese league, how do you change the chip? How do you make that change for this game against Tirsense?

First, our apologies for this slight delay, but today [Tuesday] I was so excited about training, and training was going so well, that we missed the time a little. That's it... it's about training seriously, always, to face Tirsense, and respecting the competition and Tirsense very much. So I also anticipate my willingness to be here today talking about the Portuguese Cup. I know you have to do your job, but we've also prepared ours very well, and our full focus is on the Portuguese Cup, because it's a semi-final. We've had a very good run, playing Pevidém, then three teams from the 1st Division - Estrela da Amadora, Farense and SC Braga. We haven't won the competition since 2016/17. It's also a sign to appreciate Tirsense. The fact that a team like Tirsense - a historic team in our league, they've been in the 1st Division - have come as far as they have. And we also recognize the work to the same extent that we do when these events happen in England, Spain or, even recently, in France [Dunkerque], by a coach who was even here in this house and won the Youth League, Luís Castro. So here we are, totally focused on Tirsense and committed to playing a good game, getting a good result and clearly taking the lead in this tie.

You've just said that your focus is on the Cup match, but I'd like to ask you: surely, yesterday [Monday], you watched the match between Sporting and SC Braga, how did you follow it? Do you feel that Benfica are now the main favorites to win the title, given that they are isolated at the top of the league?

We're favorites to win this tie with Tirsense now. I'll be happy to answer your question when we change the chip back to the National Championship. That's how it has to be, and that's how we spoke today [Tuesday] morning. Our focus is on the next game.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's game [Wednesday], I'd like to ask you if you're not afraid that Benfica will go, I would say, from euphoria - I'm talking about the Benfica universe - to depression? Or the fear, or the fear of being dazzled, of going from a categorical victory to a setback in another competition? Is this Benfica team fit to win the Portuguese Cup and also be national champions?

We have to have that capacity, that's why I'm telling you: the way we train makes us believe that we're always prepared for it and at every moment. We've been talking, and your questions are always along those lines, to what extent. And the team has to give those answers. I'll take the questions you asked me after the FC Porto game and think back to Farense. After conceding two goals against Farense, how do you approach the next game? Not with depression, with focus and determination. And it's the same here: after the result we got in the last game, how are we going to approach the game with Tirsense? It's about respecting Tirsense, looking at Tirsense, preparing the team and choosing the best players at every moment to win the game. It has to be that way, and I never allow the players or the team to think more than what we control, which is our way of preparing. Of course we feel the Benfica fans, the Benfica wave, the support we've received recently, but I don't allow that to get in the way or distract the team.

Will you take advantage of the Cup match to rest Tomás Araújo, so that he can finally recover from the injury that has been affecting him? Will Samuel Soares start?

We're not going to spare anyone. We just have to manage as we have been doing all along. I can even tell you that Samu [Samuel Soares] will play, António [Silva] will play and Tino [Florentino] will play. So we're going to be determined to play a great game and to do what we feel we have to do at all times. And Nico [Otamendi] will stay at home.

Before the Clássico, Seferovic gave us an interview in which he said that, in 2018/19, Bruno Lage was very important in changing the energy of the group and that he made everyone happy. Do you feel that's happened this season? How is that important?

They are different groups. What I feel and see, especially from the older players, because of their experience, is the determination they show on the pitch. And, fundamentally, in difficult or less difficult moments, regardless of the game, we manage to make our presence felt. An example of that was what we did at Juventus, what we did in the last game [against FC Porto]. We felt that the team was very determined to do things well, and to understand that we have a direction, and they want to follow it. To conclude: a huge dedication to always trying to stick to our game plan, and that makes me really happy and proud to work with them. Having this group of players with enormous talent, with a great feeling of playing as a team, that's the most important thing for me. They have that feeling, it shows on the pitch.

You said you weren't going to manage, but you announced Nico [Otamendi] at home. Is this an opportunity for players who may have fewer minutes, in this case, to prove that they can also gain more space in this game with Tirsense

Of course! Everyone is living off their performance and what they can do at all times. Whether they're starting, coming on to help the team, or even on the bench, we're paying attention to their attitude. But I'm not talking about sparing, because we've been doing that for the last two months. We played Santa Clara [matchday 22], for example, with Bruma, Belotti and Zeki [Amdouni]. So this isn't about sparing, it's about playing every three days, and only tomorrow [Wednesday] will some players complete their recovery. We'll understand, depending on the solutions we have, what the best eleven is for that moment.