The Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira belonged to Benfica. Coach Bruno Lage had a beaming smile after his team beat Sporting. It was a sweet victory, especially since his squad had a tricky pre-season. The Club World Cup shortened their usual preparation time. Still, the team delivered.
Lage shared his thoughts on the game. He noted the team really wanted this trophy. Despite only fifteen days together, they played well. The first half was even, with Benfica holding the ball often. He felt they could have linked passes better, but that was expected with less training. Some players just joined the team, and one even celebrated a trophy before his first practice. The second half was a different story. Benfica started very strong. They had talked things over and fixed some issues at halftime. Lage asked them to stay closer to the ball and keep more possession. He felt his team were truly deserving winners.
Then came the question about Sporting coach Rui Borges. Borges had claimed his Sporting side was better, even after the loss. Lage just chuckled. “Everyone has their own view,” he said. He remembered the Cup final. Borges won that one and also said his team was better. Now, he lost and still made the same claim. For Lage, it’s simple: he looks at his own team. Their goal is to keep working and improving. They had won this title. Now, their eyes are firmly on the Champions League. Benfica and its club want to be among Europe’s elite.
Lage also shared what he told his players in the locker room. He said the win was all their doing. Coaches can plan everything, even training for weeks. But the players showed huge ability. They had the desire to play this big game. He ended by thanking the fans and again stressing the Champions League goal.
A reporter then asked about new signing Ivanovic. Would he play alongside Pavlidis or as a lone striker? Lage called it a good question. He admitted it depends on the players themselves. He needs to figure it out. Ivanovic can play in many positions: beside, behind, or in front of others. He has great potential and was a player they had wanted for a long time. He arrived, didn’t even train, and the first thing he did was take a photo with his new teammates and the Supertaça trophy. It was a perfect start for the new arrival and for the club’s season.