Lukebakio opens up on first season at Benfica: I barely managed... | OneFootball

Dodi Lukebakio gave an honest assessment of his first season at Benfica and did not hide his disappointment at not being able to establish himself as he had hoped. The Belgium international admitted that injuries and a lack of continuity ended up limiting his impact on the Eagles’ team.

"I’m only human. Suddenly, a lot of things started going through my mind. I could barely show my worth in my first season at Benfica. And I feared losing my place at the World Cup [with the Belgium national team]," he confessed, in comments quoted by Belgian newspaper 'HLN'.

Despite the difficulties on the pitch, Lukebakio revealed that adapting to the Benfica world was extremely positive. "When I signed, they told me: 'Dodi, you have no idea how big this club is.' I can assure you that now I understand. The fans, the stadium, the media... Benfica is massive," he said.

The 28-year-old player also revealed that he considered several possibilities before heading to the Luz, but believes he made the right decision. "I had doubts during the summer, but after comparing all the options, Benfica was the logical choice," he explained, highlighting the opportunity to compete for titles and in the Champions League.

After a season below expectations, the winger’s ambition remains intact and he is determined to regain a leading role. "It’s true that I did well as a substitute [in the friendly against Tunisia, which Belgium won 5-0], but I’m a competitive animal. My goal is always to play and be in the starting lineup," he concluded.

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