"The team had a very good performance"

POST-MATCH

Bruno Lage praised the symbiosis between the team's competence and the Fans in his analysis of Benfica's 3-0 win over Tondela, in Matchday 3 of the Liga Betclic.

A "CAPABLE AND INTELLIGENT" BENFICA

"[Match analysis] First of all, a word to our fans, who were truly fantastic in their support during this match. They were very important. I would also like to congratulate Ivo [Vieira] for the way he prepared for the match. I think it was a very good game tactically, because he knew we had played on Wednesday [against Fenerbahçe], he is aware of what it is like to travel from Turkey and only return on Thursday night, and then have Friday to prepare for this game and play with only 72 hours rest. He forced us to run a lot, to press them when they were playing short passes, to look for deep passes and to keep running. But the team performed very well. At that moment, we were very strong together, both in a high block, to win the ball immediately, and in a lower block to win the ball. Then we had the ability and intelligence to score three very beautiful goals. So it's much more important to value what we did collectively, both those who started and those who came on. And then the goal of the game, which was to win, to secure the three points."

SATISFIED WITH ALL THE PLAYERS

"[Let me repeat the question that thousands of Benfica fans have been asking in recent days, and I quote the fans: ‘How can you not love Dedic?] We are really pleased to have looked at last year's team and understood very well what we were missing. And to choose the players very carefully to be a strong team. I am very satisfied with everyone. Some, more than others, are playing more, getting to know each other better, and have another ability to relate more quickly to their teammates. But overall, I am satisfied with those who were here, and I am very satisfied with how the players arrived and integrated into the team. To avoid any misunderstanding, it was what we were missing due to what happened to us: injuries, players with expiring contracts and players who were on loan. We looked at the positions where we felt we could improve, and that is how we are approaching the transfer market until the end.

“VERY GOOD” GAME BY THE FORWARDS

"[Benfica is back with a 4-4-2 formation, with Ivanovic and Pavlidis. Last year, played with three midfielders, and now have two strikers. Was it Ivanovic's arrival that made Bruno Lage decide to play with two strikers, or to have a more muscular midfield, with Richard Ríos and Barrenechea?]  That's a very intelligent question. We have to look at each moment and assess the players we have at our disposal. Today [Saturday], I had a very interesting conversation with the two forwards [Pavlidis and Ivanovic], because they have to do a fantastic job, both in defense and attack, and they have to know each other very well to be able to combine, to be able to connect. I think they both ended up playing a very good game. In defensive terms, little has changed because Fredrik [Aursnes] did that, but in offensive terms, the dynamics are different. The most important thing is that we have the ability to understand what the best strategy is and what the best starting eleven is at any given moment. We're definitely not going to always play 4-4-2; they're definitely not going to always play together, but when they do play, they have to play, and today was another good opportunity for them to get to know each other."

SAMUEL SOARES AND TRUBIN

"I'll bet on Samuel [Soares] when I feel like it... I see Samuel Soares as I see any other player. He's at a very high level, we're continuing the work we've been doing with Samuel, but for me it's clear: Trubin will play with Fenerbahçe. Samuel will play when he has to play, because we have a lot of confidence in the goalkeepers we have. [How do you rank him among the best goalkeepers in the Liga Betclic?] You have to ask the goalkeeping coach, Nuno Santos, that question. I don't know the other goalkeepers, I only know mine. [Is it possible to keep a young player with this potential as number 2 for so long?] When you say so long, what period are you referring to? Just so we're clear. [Since he's been a substitute...] So it was just with me, right? Or was it last year too? I can answer for the time I've been here, unless I'm mistaken, which is three weeks, one year. I've seen Samuel evolve a lot, and I treat him the same way I treat Aktürkoğlu, for example: he played last week; today Andreas played. Whenever I feel that the interval between games is tight, Samuel can play. Whenever he has played, he has contributed with great performances, and he gives me full confidence in goal, at all times, both defensively and offensively."

ANALYSIS OF OBRADOR'S DEBUT

"I was pleased with his [Obrador's] debut. I believe it's not easy to suddenly leave a Spanish second division team and then have the debut he had. Today, one of the major goals achieved was the physical management of the team. And I'll tell you, we expected that it would be more difficult for players who don't have game rhythm to endure 90 minutes than those who have more playing time and game rhythm. So, with the break between games and the trip [to Turkey], we immediately understood that this was the right moment, because we have the squad to do it, to make some changes, and then, as we felt we had to change to keep the team alive in the game, we did so. Obrador had already played, if I'm not mistaken, close to 80 minutes in the B team, today he played about 60 minutes, he played well. I repeat what I said yesterday [Friday] about Obrador and about all the players: we are in August and we expect much more from everyone."

RETURN OF TOMÁS ARAÚJO

"[Tomás Araújo returned to a good level. Will he keep his position?] All players have the ability to play, it depends on each one's response. But, look, I can already tell you two players: Trubin will play and António [Silva] will play against Fenerbahçe. [And the other nine, for that matter...] Coach Mourinho already knows, but I'm not telling you [smiles]." 

6TH GAME WITHOUT CONCEDING A GOAL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OTAMENDI

"[Benfica has yet to concede a goal this season. What role does captain Otamendi play in the dressing room and in the development of players such as António Silva and Tomás Araújo?] Nico [Otamendi] is very important. Not just in the way he defends the goal, that's a team effort – and the work of the two forwards is also very important, helping to close down the goal so that the team is cohesive and compact; the work of the two goalkeepers is also very important. Nico is a natural leader. I've heard António [Silva] talk about Nico, I've heard Tomás [Araújo] talk about Nico. [Otamendi] is 37, almost 38. He is an example, both as a man and as an athlete. And I am extremely proud to have him as captain. As time goes by, I feel more and more that there is a great relationship, a great closeness between my message and his message, in the sense of being a leader and helping me to convey the message I want to convey to the team."