Benfica elections: Manteigas on Rui Costa, Bruno Lage and more | OneFootball

João Diogo Manteigas expressed confidence in his chances of winning the Benfica elections. The candidate for the Presidency of the Clube da Luz gave an interview to Canal NOW, where he addressed various topics related to the red emblem, from Rui Costa to Bruno Lage. Noronha Lopes also gave an interview on the same day.

"I am not at all surprised by the poll results, they don’t interest me much. I’ve been working for a year. My poll is the street, I’ve been out on the street for a long time, Benfica fans already know me. I don’t pay the media. For a year, they didn’t call me, they called me here today. But I’m grateful, it’s the result of my work. I’m here on my own. I can’t imagine not winning or not going to a second round. Either I go to the second round, at the very least, or I win. On October 25th, we’ll see. The poll has value and gave me a ticket to be here. It has value for those who want to cling to polls. My conviction is different and I am convinced that I will win."

Connection to other candidacies:

"Any time spent talking about Benfica is useful. I launched my candidacy over a year ago. And they said it all. That the first corn is for the sparrows... members of other candidacies said that. I’ve already been associated with Vieira’s candidacy, Rui Costa’s, Martim Mayer’s, the only one I haven’t been linked to is Cristóvão Carvalho’s. I appreciate the importance and relevance they give to my candidacy, it’s a good sign. The other candidates know the candidacy has value, apparently they recognize it. They know someone who’s been around here for 18 years, knows a lot about this. I came to win, I was born to work, I know very well what Benfica is. I know what I had to do to get here. That’s what others recognize in me and that’s why they try to link me to other candidacies. I came to win, I know what it takes. And I will win."

Relationship with Rui Costa:

"I get along well with Rui Costa, I don’t have his number. Just as I say what I have to say at the General Assembly. I may like the person, like having someone polite to me. I don’t like his vision for Benfica. Benfica is above any friendship."

Future of Bruno Lage:

"Bruno Lage is Benfica’s coach, just like the football players or those of other sports. Whoever comes into Benfica has to inherit what they find. I am ready to inherit whatever Benfica gives me. I know what I’m going to find. He will be one of the first people or group of people I will talk to and explain our sports project: If Bruno Lage understands, out of loyalty or personal decision, that he should leave, I’m not going to create instability at that level. You know what it’s like when a candidate comes in and fires a coach or player... That contract must be respected. We’ll have a conversation with the coach. Bruno Lage is a consequence of Benfica’s management. Putting everything on Lage or the players is a consequence of sports management."

Bruno Lage’s words about Rui Costa:

"Is Bruno Lage campaigning for Rui Costa? No, I think he’s had one or two unfortunate remarks. He could have been a bit more careful. That’s what communication departments are for, there’s Pedro Pinto, Gonçalo Guimarães, Nuno Costa in the president’s office... people who could advise him. We all fail, we all make mistakes. It’s not an assessment I’m concerned about. I haven’t criticized that kind of statement for a year. We can’t give everything the same level of importance. I understand Bruno Lage’s situation, it was Rui Costa who bet on him. I understand that he gets along well with Rui Costa, it’s normal to have a closer relationship. Just as it would be normal that, if we come in, he gets along with us too. I’m almost certain that Bruno Lage doesn’t agree with everything that’s been happening. Departures and arrivals. Lourenço Coelho, who left for the arrival of new directors. He has to focus on his profession, do his best for Benfica and shouldn’t give too much importance to communication and his position as a member. He should separate things, he makes mistakes and shouldn’t do it again. I know what press conferences are like, often you feel the need to do them. He’s not from communications, he’s from football, and sometimes he makes mistakes."

Return of Bernardo Silva and João Neves’ situation:

"I’m a candidate and I’m also a member. I hope the elections are on the 26th, because on the 25th, logistically, it will be chaos, since Benfica is playing at home. It will be difficult to organize with the police. Unfortunately, in the last 4 years a lot has been promised and it’s always a miss. In the 80s or 90s, that happened a lot. Presenting players. Vilarinho announced Jardel in a debate against Vale e Azevedo. That was a disaster. Each has their own electoral policies. I show work, rigor, vision, and project. For me, that’s not what matters. Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, Cancelo, Gonçalo Guedes, João Neves, they’re all Benfica members. Get on a plane and come vote for me. Trump cards? It’s not something that has value to change Benfica. My candidacy is made from the mentality of Benfica fans. I spent a year listening to them. I’m here for Benfica fans, I’m not dependent on sports results. I spent a year listening to them, I go everywhere. The political strategy of the 80s and 90s wasn’t successful, but it did have influence in that election. Now people have more information, they think much more about Benfica. Politically, as a strategy, it doesn’t have the value it had in the 80s or 90s."

"Today, that’s not all that matters to the fans. Any player contracts in effect, I think, should be kept confidential. Bernardo Silva or any other player will have an open door at Benfica. He will get offers from other clubs. From Spain, for sure. The assurance that any other candidate has regarding a pre-agreement is valid for one candidacy as well as another. Has Bernardo Silva already been confronted with this [with the contract]? Bernardo Silva supports change. He is electorally active on his own. Any candidate can have that pre-agreement. I make contracts every day. If Benfica changes leadership, do you think he won’t listen to Benfica’s management or will only do so if [the winner] is Noronha? I would love to see João Neves return. I wish they would all come. What I want is to instill in Benfica’s youth the desire to win at Benfica and not at PSG or Al Hilal."

Comment on the Financial Report:

"One of my choices for director, Pedro Ferreira, told me that after the calculations it would be 34 and something million. When we’re interested... Obviously I have to be interested and know the numbers by heart. Benfica has to retain positive results every year. Benfica’s financial problem isn’t the 25 percent increase in liabilities, it’s not having increased the debt, it’s a cash flow problem. Benfica has no cash. At the moment, it has 6 million in cash. It doesn’t have money for its day-to-day operations. We need to have 280 million euros in cash for the next 4 years. The deficit Benfica has, despite showing a positive value, needs to be managed. In bond loans, Benfica should adjust the maturity of its financial debt to its revenues. Several processes need to be started to adjust its financial condition, to be more sustainable. Benfica asks for loans. Benfica needs more responsible management. I’m not worried about athlete management and player departures."

"Result of 34.4 million euros? It’s a positive result. Good. I’ll inherit a better situation. This year was exceptional. We had the Club World Cup, a good run in the Champions League, made sales... An exceptional year. Benfica is under UEFA supervision. Benfica has to reduce its liabilities every 3 years. Liabilities are to be managed. Benfica shouldn’t have to ask for money for its daily management."

Security at Estádio da Luz:

"The infrastructure is not limited to the Stadium. They need to be updated. Benfica District? I know that Benfica has had several projects for several years. It’s normal. It’s a cutting-edge, interesting project, but it goes over Benfica’s core business and over the essentials. Benfica was founded to win. Benfica has some of the best infrastructures in the world. Benfica doesn’t have space for all its members. But it has a security problem at the Stadium. There are few exits and entrances, it’s dangerous. If something happens inside the Stadium, we could have security issues. Ideas? A pedestrian bridge over Av. Lusíada, as well as over the Segunda Circular. Benfica has to create conditions and talk to the CML. Benfica needs another pavilion for other sports. Benfica pays a lot in rentals for training. The Seixal Campus needs to be expanded. My plan involves retaining youth players. I have to expand Seixal as much as possible so Benfica can proudly say it has homegrown players winning."

Sporting’s recent hegemony:

"Sporting’s hegemony? They won in the last two years. It has everything to do with the changes at Benfica. A sports, economic, financial, and associative project. Benfica has 3 main characteristics: associativism, the foundation of Benfica, which my candidacy represents; youth development, Benfica is known for its youth academy; and eclecticism, it has sports for everything and more. I didn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s about Benfica’s sustainability. That’s how to break Sporting’s alleged hegemony. Benfica is superior to the others. We have to stop saying that now. Benfica is clearly superior to the others. Incomparably superior to the others. Sporting doesn’t worry me. When I enter Benfica, people will understand why I don’t have to worry about the others."

Ruben Amorim at Benfica:

"Ruben Amorim? At the moment, he’s not being successful. Benfica is incomparable. It’s much harder to coach Benfica [than Sporting]. I don’t know if Ruben Amorim will come or if he’ll be a good coach for Benfica. He has a contract and has to get on with his life."

José Mourinho at Benfica:

"José Mourinho? Bruno Lage is coaching Benfica. They come up with arguments to destabilize. You have to ask Rui Costa. I will give back to Benfica everything Benfica has given me. I talk to coaches every day. I’ve done all the consultations. For 18 years I’ve been doing consultations, because I represent them. I will stop representing them."

Sérgio Conceição at Benfica:

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