Top official says 2021 was the most turbulent period in Benfica's history | OneFootball

Rui Costa, President of Benfica, addressed the members and fans on the 26th anniversary of the Casa do Benfica de Paredes. The current top leader of the reds acknowledges that not everything has been perfect since he assumed the role of the club's top leader, but says he embraced the position in 2021, during "the most turbulent period in History" of the eagles.

"I perfectly understand the responsibility of being in charge of a Club of this size, as well as the frustration of our fans and members when the team does not win. I will never shy away from these responsibilities. It is a sadness for me not to have won more titles in football during this period. No one suffers more than me because of this. Believe me, no one feels the absence of these titles more than I do. I also know that when football does not win, everything else is overlooked and it seems that everything is wrong," he began.

Rui Costa also recalled the moment he became president of Benfica, in 2021, and the subsequent elections, claiming that, at that time: "I joined this Club as president perhaps in the most turbulent period of our history. It is true that we have already gone through bad times in the past in this Club, both financial and structural. I became President overnight, to prevent Benfica from falling. I became president of Benfica unprepared. In the morning I was in Seixal working with the football team and at night I was president. I do not forget everything I experienced during that period, but I do not regret it. I will never hide from the responsibility of being a Benfiquista," he stated.

The high-ranking red official criticizes the other candidates for not appearing at the time: "At that time, Francisco Benítez and I appeared. No one else did. And that's when, perhaps, Benfica needed six candidates. Many hid. Not me, I will never hide. I wish the mandate had been better, especially in terms of titles, but I never hide from responsibilities, especially what it means to be a Benfiquista. I will be here, stronger than ever, with the same love and passion as always, to correct what needs to be corrected and reinforce what was well done, which was a lot (...)," he said.

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