Bruno Lage appeared in front of journalists this Saturday, at Benfica Campus, to preview the Benfica-Rio Ave match, played at Estádio da Luz, at 6pm.
One of the first issues he was faced with is Nicolás Otamendi‘s starting role, after a less successful game in the Champions League against Feyenoord. Lage sent it to the collective.
«I’m not going to individualize, that’s how I think. There are no guaranteed places, nor places at risk. He’s a great player, with the past he has. World champion and has already won in Portugal, both with Benfica and FC Porto. Everyone has to work and my decisions are based on the collective”, he began by evaluating.
Above all, guarantees the Benfica coach, the technical committee decides the starting eleven taking into account the opponent.
«I like to put the answer depending on the next game. I have repeated the team a few times and I have been very pleased with the people who have come off the bench.”
«Central? Antonio didn’t leave [do onze] because you made a mistake. It’s because Tomás [Araújo] I could come up with a different solution and it worked. This is the dynamic and way of thinking, particularly playing every three days», he explained.
«We are satisfied with the performance of the central defenders, because anyone can achieve very good performances. The most important thing is, at each moment, the players respond. If you look at my path, I never looked at statutes, but I have to make decisions. What matters is performance at each moment», concluded Bruno Lage.
Benfica will host Rio Ave this Sunday afternoon (6pm), in a ninth round match to continue, to the minute, in the More football.
The Eagles occupy fourth place in the League, with 16 points and one match behind, at Choupana.
