The Benfica coach admitted that Rui Costa addressed the team about Saturday’s match against Porto. But she also maintains that nothing is relevant given what has actually happened at other times throughout this season.

“The boss is with us every day and talks to the team several times. Within the logic of the intervention that he has followed throughout this season, the way the president addressed the team has been natural. I don’t see any relevant meaning compared to the other interventions that I have made. It is another game, there was interference from The president, as in other circumstances, the most important thing is what we have to do as a team”, explained Nelson Verissimo.

In the last 10 confrontations with FC Porto, Benfica defeated their opponent only once, in March 2019, Nelson Verissimo, was a member of the technical team led by Bruno Lage at that time. “I was present at the last victory and, as a member of Bruno Lage’s technical team, we know the balance is not favourable, but we believe we can reverse the situation. We have to recognize the quality of the opponent, but the team gave a good response in matches with a high level of difficulty,” he said, after recalling examples from matches with Ajax, Liverpool and Sporting.

On the strategy to be adopted, the coach explained: “We will try to explore the weakest points of FC Porto and play our game. Looking at our players and improving the way they play. And don’t tell me our team is just a shift, because it’s not. In the high difficulty matches, we also had moments of offensive organization, with possession of the ball.”