"What concerned me most was seeing my team first and foremost. Since I arrived, surely the match we played here three weeks ago was the farthest from what we should be. Today, we showed what we should be, and that is what we have been emphasizing since I arrived. When you face an opponent, you have to know them and understand their strengths. Here at Benfica, three weeks ago, they hurt us a lot with transitions and set-pieces. It was a matter of not only defending more organized but also attacking with more organization, especially behind the ball. We did that, we finished many plays, and we pressed high. We saw a great team. There is still room for improvement, but this is the path we must follow."

The tie
"We cannot make the mistake of considering a team coached by Mourinho out of the game with a 0-1 scoreline. I don't know if anyone could do that, but it won't be me. He is already preparing for that match as soon as they entered the dressing rooms, and it's not a result to relax on. Benfica is not a team that will let us take our foot off the gas if we want to beat them. The Bernabéu will await Benfica, and our fans will be on our side, once again becoming a crucial factor. If we want to eliminate Benfica, we still have 90 minutes of very good football ahead, just like we played today."

Arda Güler
"He is a player with characteristics that help us a lot because he can link our midfield with Vini Jr. and Kylian. He also helps us in creation and is a special player, one of a kind. He has been very important to the team, and this growth benefits us immensely. We need to keep working on his confidence, and these types of matches help him grow as the young player he is. I'm super happy and super proud to have a guy like Arda and the work he is capable of doing."

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.