The final whistle had just blown at Stamford Bridge. Benfica’s goalkeeper, Trubin, felt the sting of a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. This was in the Champions League, on its second matchday. He didn’t hide his disappointment. The big Ukrainian shot-stopper felt his team left London empty-handed. He believed they deserved more from this European match.
“We could have played much better,” Trubin told reporters after the game. He pinpointed the first half as a missed opportunity. “It feels like we threw away a chance. We really should have taken something more from this match.” But, he added with a shrug, “That’s how football goes sometimes.” The “red wall,” as some call him, stressed the need to start strong. “We need to be ready from the very first whistle,” he said. He quickly brushed aside any talk of comparing Chelsea to FC Porto. “Those are two completely different games,” he stated simply. “They are two different clubs altogether.” He mentioned FC Porto’s perfect run: seven wins in seven matches. “We focus on our own path,” Trubin insisted. “We look at our mistakes and get ready to fight again.”
The conversation then shifted to José Mourinho, the new man in charge. Trubin shared his early thoughts on the legendary Portuguese coach. “We haven’t spent much time together yet,” he admitted. “But he’s definitely a special coach. He truly is the ‘Special One’.” Trubin spoke highly of Mourinho’s vast experience. “He brings so much knowledge. We’re all eager to soak up that experience for our team.”