"Do everything possible to win and move forward"

PREVIEW

At the launch of Fenerbahçe-Benfica on Wednesday, August 20, for the first leg of the Champions League, playoff, Bruno Lage expressed his ambition to see the team continue the work it has been doing to take an important step toward its goal.

How is the team's confidence considering the best start [season] ever, with 4 games, 4 wins, and 0 goals conceded? So how's the team feeling about this game?

The team is focused on continuing the work we have been doing so far, perhaps with the shortest preseason in Benfica's history. So, full credit to the players, but we also know that, at this point, we must not look back, we must look forward. Great credit to the players for the sacrifice they made in having virtually no vacation, doing the preseason in official games, players arriving and immediately entering the competition. I am satisfied with everyone's performance, but I still feel we have a lot to give. Right now, the most important thing is to continue our work.

You said in several press conferences that you were talking about José [Mourinho], the best in the world, here in Istanbul, after he said that Benfica might not have been very happy to have been drawn against Fenerbahçe instead of Feyenoord. Can you talk about those statements today?

I consider Mourinho to be the best coach in Setúbal and the surrounding area, and in many surrounding areas. That's something that's interesting for tomorrow's game [Wednesday], that we're from the same city and I've known him for years. So, what is important to mention at this point is that it is not Bruno's game against José Mourinho, but rather Benfica's game against Fenerbahçe. Eventually, both on his side and on ours, we could perhaps think of a meeting at a later stage of the competition than at this moment. But regardless of the respect and admiration I have for him, tomorrow [Wednesday] what is on my mind is to do my best to help Benfica achieve a good result, take the tie to the Estádio da Luz, and ensure Benfica's access to the Champions League.

Could Aktürkoğlu be decisive tomorrow [Wednesday] in the game against Fenerbahçe?

I'm not going to answer that, because I haven't told the players the XI yet, but, as you know, he has been a very important player for us, both because of his record last season and the way he has started this season. 

And in that "setubalense" match, keeping up the pace, if you were suddenly the first Benfica coach to win in Turkey, ahead of the usual record-breaker?

I was the one who brought Setúbal into the conversation, but the most important thing tomorrow [Wednesday] is that two coaches will face each other. He is a friend of mine, I have enormous consideration and respect for him. In our minds, mine and the technical team's, winning is the most important thing. That's what matters the most. So it's not Bruno who will beat the opposing coach, it's Benfica who will do everything possible to win and move forward in the competition. The game is between Benfica and Fenerbahçe, the tie is between Benfica and Fenerbahçe.

Bruno Lage and José Mourinho know each other well. Would it be surprising if each of them managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat in this tie, without the other expecting it?

Absolutely. For example, in the Eusébio Cup, it was clear that no one had anticipated that this match could happen, and there were no major strategic or tactical details that could be brought to this game. Now, of course, we always try to anticipate what the other side will do. But the most important thing, regardless of the opponent's strategy, is that we are very aware of what our job is for tomorrow's game [Wednesday]. 

At the end of the game between Fenerbahçe and Feyenoord, José Mourinho said, already anticipating the match against Benfica, that he would be facing a team that had spent an incredible amount of money on new players. Do you think José Mourinho is putting pressure on Benfica, or do you accept that Benfica has indeed invested more and has a certain advantage in this tie?

You know coach José Mourinho better than I do [smiles]. What I can say, because I have some knowledge of Turkish football, is that, among those top Turkish clubs... there is no Portuguese club that can pay the salaries that a Turkish club pays.

Mourinho has played Benfica nine times and only failed to win once. Will this put pressure on you?

This tie is very important for both teams, so it's not Mourinho playing against Benfica, it's Fenerbahçe playing against Benfica. In my opinion, this tie is 50-50 and is very important for us, just as it is very important for Fenerbahçe. It is very important for me as a coach, and I believe it is also very important for José Mourinho as Fenerbahçe's coach. 

Fenerbahçe fans gave their team tremendous support in their last game against Feyenoord. After seeing that, do you feel that playing the first game in Istanbul is an advantage or a disadvantage for you?

Unlike Benfica, Fenerbahçe is coming from an adverse result, and I believe that tomorrow [Wednesday] the fans may want to assist the team to come back to winning ways. But we have enough experience, we are a team that plays very well away from home, we are used to these games, you have just seen a young player [António Silva] who has already played 150 games for Benfica. We are ready for the game.

Kökcü and Aktürkoğlu, two important Turkish players with a history at Benfica. Are there any Turkish players you like in the Turkish league? We wanted to know if you are interested in any Turkish players.

I like Aktür [Aktürkoğlu] and I like Kökcü, they had two great seasons with me, perhaps the best season of their careers, under my leadership.