Benfica's coach didn't like what he saw at the start of the second part, making sure there's a lot to be done. Marco Silva still highlighted the team's belief in not giving up seeking victory.
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08/11/2026
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Marco Silva, Benfica's coach, in statements to Sport TV, right after the victory in front of Starred
Analysis: “There is a victory of the soul, spirit and will that we have demonstrated throughout the game. In the last 25 minutes it has been well demonstrated that it is a team that has never given up, as is our obligation. I congratulated the players on the great spirit. Looking at the first part, it was a total mastery of our team, we mastered how we liked it, and that's how we have to play it, and there's no reason to stop doing it in the second part. One thing is in the last 10 minutes, it's the total risk we have to take, another thing is to start the second part losing all the balls for transition. We need to improve on that. There's a very big alert. It is one thing to win with great spirit, another thing is the way we started the second part and allowed the game to be broken. Many things remain to be improved”.
Team management: “ We've been running a lot and today we repeat three players who played on Thursday. Unfortunately, what happened to Tomás, who played from Monday to Sunday, is a great strain. Let's not apologize for that. We drove last Thursday to get the team fresh. There's wear for all teams. I don't like easy excuses. We must examine this game very carefully.”.
Aursnes and Tomás injuries: “Tomas felt more overwhelmed in a leg area and as a precaution, because he could no longer be at his maximum, and gave us a signal to make changes. Fredrik felt discomfort in the thigh adductor area already in the final phase of training and so he was not here today.”.
Vitória keeps team in the fight for the team and celebration with the fans: “I like to perceive and feel this communion. Until the last second, they pulled the team. They deserve the thanks of the players in the end. These victories are very important, because we did a second part below our best level, and still succeed in making the goal of victory. It's an important victory with special flavor. But there are bitter issues that we must consider as a team.”.