He left Benfica in the last market, leaving after the conquest of the four-time champion and still of the Portuguese Cup. Did you leave at the right time?
Yes, for me, yes. They were two very good years in the main team, despite the injury I had in the first year and that did not let me play so much. I won almost everything in Benfica, I left in a good year and through the big door.
And do you miss Benfica?
I have, of course, but life goes on and I also had the goal of reaching another level. Maybe one day I'll be back.
Are you still in touch with your ex-buddies?
Yes, I keep with everyone in general. We have a group on whatsapp [chat on the phone] and we are always in touch. Let's talk.
And now, before facing Sporting, did not sting him to beat the eternal rival?
Not really, but they know that this must always happen (laughs). Still, and no joke, even though they were Benfica, I think they liked Sporting to pass. It would have been good for Portuguese football. I liked that it had passed and, as I said, I think Sporting deserved more for the group stage that it did.
Benfica were eliminated in the Champions League with six defeats in six games. How do you explain this course in the Champions League?
How to explain? I do not know (hesitates) ... I do not know. The Champions is not an easy competition, there may always be less good years, but I can not explain. The course was not positive. Now it is thinking of the internal competitions. Benfica is a club used to winning and knows how to get around these less positive moments. In the championship, which is the main goal, we are better ...
"We are"?
Yes we are. I no longer play in Benfica, but I'm Benfica (laughs).
Nélson Semedo is no longer there, he left and Benfica hired Douglas to Barcelona, but André Almeida plays. It does not seem easy to replace...
Douglas has a lot of quality, although he has not been able to show yet. It is not difficult to replace myself, André Almeida does it well. He plays well in any position. He is an indispensable player, all teams would like to have such a player. In Barcelona our André Almeida is Sergi Roberto (laughs). It's an excellent right back and in the formation there are also quality players, Buta or Alex Pinto for example.
It was not only Nélson Semedo who left, there were more exits. Benfica was weaker with the last market outings?
No, I do not think I'm weaker. It did not weaken. It is a less good phase, but one that is easily overcome. Last season and the previous season we also had less good stages and we finished first. The Champions League is already there, Benfica is out, but, as I said, in the league everything is open. I hope to go to the Marquis in May.
But leaving the clubism aside, do you really believe that Benfica can be champions or this year is more difficult to give a guess? The big three seem to be more evenly matched and the rivals even better...
It's always difficult, but the time is still not half gone. Anything can happen! But yes, FC Porto seems to me to be better than Benfica and than Sporting too. You are making a good season and for me you are being the best team.
In the last weekend there was classic in the Dragon and gave a goalless draw. Did you see FC Porto-Benfica?
I saw yes, of course. It was a difficult game for Benfica. FC Porto is well and at home obviously makes things even more difficult. The draw was not a bad result for Benfica.
There are already some who put Rui Vitória in question, despite what they achieved in the first two years. What do you have to say about your former coach?
Nothing bad to point you to. He is an excellent trainer and an excellent person. If I'm here in Barcelona, it's because of him that he came and he was not afraid to bet on me. Me, Ederson, and Lindelof, for example, owe him a lot.
Now he has bet on Rúben Dias, Diogo Gonçalves and João Carvalho...
Yes, that are other pearls of the formation of Benfica that have already managed to reach the main team. They have been well. Reuben has now stopped because of the operation to the appendix, Diogo whenever he is called is fine and João, despite not playing so much, is also a great player. I think they will.
Nélson Semedo came to Benfica to play for Team B, but is he one more of the formation incarnated?
Yes, I do. I played on team B with the training kids. I did not do it all, but I did an important part of the training in Seixal and so I think I am part of the formation of Benfica.
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