PortuGOAL exclusive: Belenenses match reaction to Benfica 4-0 Belenenses

Belenenses played some nice football in patches in Lisbon tonight but ended up on the wrong side of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Benfica.

After the match PortuGOAL caught up with midfielders Vítor Gomes and Robert Ahman-Persson and centre-back Domingos Duarte for their thoughts on the match.

Watch and read translations of the video interviews here.

 

Vitor Gomes interview after Benfica 4-0 Belenenses. For translation in English see below.

PortuGOAL: Do you think 4-0 was too harsh a scoreline given what happened in the match tonight?

Vítor Gomes: Yes, we came here to play good football, like we've been playing. We didn't come here to park the bus. Curiously, Benfica scored their first goal from a mistake from us. But these things happen. Afterwards we played well the rest of the first half, then in the second half we had a chance with Miguel Rosa's shot against the post, which could have given us the equaliser and turned it into a completely different game as Benfica scored straight after.

PortuGOAL: Exactly. Do you think that was the key moment?

Vítor Gomes: Yes, that was definitely the key moment. Afterwards Benfica were superior to us, they controlled the game and built a bigger lead. Congratulations to Benfica.

PortuGOAL: How has the adaptation been playing with Ahman-Persson in midfield?

Vítor Gomes: Persson is a good player. He's been growing and adapting well, the squad welcomed him well. He's feeling more confident and will improve even more with games, which is what he needs. But he's done well, and just as well for us.

PortuGOAL: Belenenses have been playing with more confidence and getting better results lately. Can Belenenses dream of making Europe this season?

Vítor Gomes: Yes, we have 32 points now. I think we don't have to worry about relegation. Now we're going to work hard to get as high as possible (in the table). If it's possible to qualify for Europe, why not? Who doesn't want to get to Europe? Belenenses wants to too. We're within our objectives for the season. Let's do the sums at the end of the season and I hope, as do all Belenenses fans, that we qualify for Europe.

 

Robert Ahman-Persson interview after Benfica 4-0 Belenenses.

 

Domingos Duarte interview after Benfica 4-0 Belenenses. For translation in English see below.

PortuGOAL: 4-0 is a heavy defeat. Perhaps too heavy given the game. What are your thoughts?

Domingos Duarte: For most of the first half I think we were on top. In the second half we started very well, but with the quality they have they ended up scoring two goals, and from then onwards we dropped our level a bit and things fell apart. But I think 4-0 is too wide a margin given the game we played, especially in the first half.

PortuGOAL: Belenenses have played well lately and got positive results. Will this result knock back the squad?

Domingos Duarte: No, not at all. We'll be playing against Braga on Saturday with the same goal to win the match.

PortuGOAL: Personally, did you expect to play so much when you came to Belenenses?

Domingos Duarte: When a player arrives at a (new) team the aim is always to play. I prepared for that. The coaches have selected me. I've played. 

PortuGOAL: Have you had any feedback from Sporting?

Domingos Duarte: They've called me once or twice and told me to continue (playing) like this.

PortuGOAL: Do you anything about next season?

Domingos Duarte: No, when next season comes we'll see. For now I'm focused only on this season.

PortuGOAL: What's your opinion of how Palhinha has done since he left Belenenses and returned to Sporting?

Domingos Duarte: Palhinha, as we all know, is a great player, and he's going through an adaptation phase. For any player who goes to Sporting and starts working with Jorge Jesus it's not easy. He's got his ideas and Palhinha has to adapt to them. I think Jorge Jesus will help Palhinha grow and it will be good for him.

 

Tom Kundert and Tiago Estêvão were asking the questions.

Related: In-depth team analysis - Belenenses

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