António Silva on possible Benfica teammate exit: I felt angry | OneFootball

António Silva was a starter in Benfica's 1-0 victory over Fenerbahçe on August 27, which secured the Eagles' place in the Champions League group stage. In the press conference following the match at Estádio da Luz, the center-back addressed the possible departure of Tiago Gouveia from Benfica.

"I can't comment, what I know is that he is a player highly admired in the locker room and by Benfica fans," António Silva began, thus not revealing whether there is indeed a possibility of his teammate leaving Luz in this transfer window, with Nice being one of the interested clubs.

The 21-year-old defender also recalled the spat with Talisca, a former Benfica player, stating that it is normal: "It's football, it's part of the game. I remember being at Estádio da Luz watching the match against Besiktas a few years ago and I felt a bit of anger over what he did, but these are things that stay on the pitch and I wish him and Fenerbahçe all the best."

Regarding the importance of securing qualification for the Champions League, António Silva stated that the competition only makes sense if the Eagles are there: "It's part of Benfica's history. The Champions League only makes sense with Benfica involved. We have had good campaigns, not only since I arrived, but also before, and this year we want to do the same."

As for António Silva's last season at Benfica, where the player had some performances below expectations, he attributed this to a lack of confidence: "People judge a player a lot by what they see on the pitch and don't understand what happens off it. Last season was difficult for me, I finished well, had a very good Club World Cup and a player always depends a bit on confidence and I wavered a little at the start. The support of my family was very important, I worked with professionals who helped me reach my peak, but I know that in football things can change from one day to the next."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.