"We hope it will be a good start"

PREVIEW

Highlighting the team's motivation for the derby that will decide the winner of the 2025 Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup, Aursnes previewed the match against Benfica and Sporting, scheduled for 8:45 pm this Thursday, July 31, at the Estádio Algarve.

What kind of game are you expecting tomorrow?

I think it will be a tough game, as it always is against Sporting. The games we played last season, and in other years, were very tough, very evenly matched, but I hope we can win tomorrow.

Benfica signed two midfielders this season, Enzo Barrenechea and Richard Ríos. What changes can we expect in Benfica's midfield, and what are your expectations for this season?

I think they are doing very well. You could see in the last game [Eusébio Cup] that they had a great impact, they are also training well, so we hope they will be very important for us this season. We have high expectations and are looking forward to the new season. We have our first game tomorrow, we hope it will be a good start.

Benfica is investing in the team. Does that put more pressure on the team to win titles?

I don't feel that way, to be honest. They will help us immensely, and we need good players here to have great competition among the players as well. It will help everyone, and I hope they have a great season and a great career at Benfica.

You have played in various positions here at Benfica. Are you ready to do the same this season and play in various positions? Is this something you do naturally now, or do you expect to play more in one position rather than in several?

It's hard to say. I always keep an open mind. Wherever I play, I'll give it my best shot, and that's the attitude that, at least for me, is good. I'll give it my best wherever I play. If it's good enough, it's good enough; if not, maybe I'll play somewhere else. That's my attitude about it.

As we know, you have played in various positions. Benfica has two new midfielders, but no new right-winger. Are you prepared to be the coach's new right-winger and play in that position tomorrow?

We'll see tomorrow. I'm comfortable playing there and, as I said in the last question, I'm always open to playing in any position and I'll give my best wherever I play. It doesn't matter if it's on the right wing, the left wing, number 6 or number 8, or right back. It's all fine with me.

With less time in preseason, how do you feel about the new season and the game?

I feel great. We had a break, which was good, but now—speaking for myself—I'm motivated for the new season. We have a big game tomorrow, and we're looking forward to it. These are the games we like to play. It'll be great to start the season with this kind of game.

You have six teammates who have been in the group for three years. How do these changes affect your work?

It's normal to have several changes every year. That's how it is here, and nowadays, there will always be changes at various clubs. It's part of the game, and we just have to adapt as best we can.

At the end of last season, coach Bruno Lage said that the team needs to be more aggressive on and off the pitch. Do you feel in training and in the games you've played that this match against Sporting is a good opportunity to start showing more aggression on the pitch?

We showed a little at the Club World Cup that we need to demand more from ourselves. Perhaps both on and off the pitch. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for everyone to show that. We can demand that from each other. Being aggressive and playing intense football suits our team.