Marco Silva unveiled at Benfica, minute by minute | OneFootball

5:31 p.m. - Is winning the Europa League one of the goals? "I can say to Benfica fans that first I want to say the first step is to be there. We will have an unusual pre-season, but that will never be an excuse. We have 6 matches to play. If we are there, looking at Benfica’s stature and that of the clubs involved, Benfica has to be a contender. It wasn’t necessary to have that conversation with the president. The club’s stature demands it. We have to aim to get to Frankfurt"

"I can’t tell you how I’ll react moment by moment. As Benfica coach I will have to have emotional control, but I can’t guarantee I’ll always be brilliant. I come from a different culture, I wasn’t always perfect, I had to pay some fines. I’m here to defend Benfica. I’m not a fan of talking about refereeing. Over the years I spoke more than I wanted to. If we are stronger on the pitch it will be harder not to be victorious. I hope it stays within limits, that I’m able to bring people together. I hope I don’t make mistakes in that respect. But I don’t promise..."

5:26 p.m. - What will have to happen for Benfica fans to feel this was the right change? "I don’t need to come up with a stronger phrase than my predecessors. It’s how I feel. Benfica is about winning, that’s easy to answer. In this club it’s the only way for everyone to be more united. The fans have to realize the strength they have"

5:25 p.m. - What shortcomings have you identified? Are you counting on Sudakov? "He’s a Benfica player, we’re counting on him. He was a major investment. You only have to look at the characteristics of my teams. He’s a player we can get the best out of. It will be his moment to prove himself. I believe in him a lot. He had a difficult year. He will have all our support and confidence... Benfica’s games? I’m not going to spell out the shortcomings and strengths. That would be giving away advantages. Even if I feel there is a weakness I won’t say it. We have to talk about what is good, not leave things hanging that will be seized upon. We’ll try to hide them. I’m not going to say I watched every game, the focus was on the Premier League, but as a Portuguese person it was part of our routine to be together watching Portuguese league matches"

5:22 p.m. - Marco Silva followed Benfica. Do you feel the squad is worth more? "I don’t need to make comparisons. It has quality, we are working so we can strengthen it. We lost an important player, it’s one of the positions we have to reinforce. Not being in the Champions League carries a lot of weight, not only financially. That’s not why Benfica won’t invest and fight for titles"

5:21 p.m. - When you left Portuguese football, Benfica were dominant. Now you return with Benfica in 3rd. It’s a big challenge, restoring that dominance. Were you invited to return to Benfica earlier? "I had the opportunity to return to Portuguese football. It didn’t happen. This one I felt was the right moment. We have to face reality. When Benfica don’t win, no one can talk about positivity. We have to break that, that is the goal, to be champions. It’s important to mention that we have 3 opponents of the same level to make our task harder"

5:19 p.m. - Are you aware that your job could be at risk if you are not champion? "Any coach has their job at risk. When I decided to enter this career... I live with that very well. I’m balanced enough to understand that. I signed for two years with Benfica, but my goal is to stay three years at Benfica... Financial side? It wasn’t the main reason, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, as you know"

5:17 p.m. - Did your departure from Sporting leave any bitterness? Is this redemption? And the transfer market? "There is no bitterness, enormous respect for the clubs I represented. Enormous respect. In every challenge I always put in my passion, as I will do at Benfica. That is outside my feelings. Transfer market? Up to a certain point it didn’t make sense, from the moment there was an agreement we started working on next season"

5:16 p.m. - Why swap the Premier League for Portugal? "I’m not going to say whether it was difficult or easy. I’ve been out of the country for 12 years. I felt good, it was very hard to establish my name. You mentioned Benfica, for me that was important. The emotional side carried a lot of weight. When Benfica don’t win, the challenge is huge. There is no other reason than the name Benfica"

5:14 p.m. - What makes you believe you will be successful? "If I didn’t believe it, I wouldn’t be here. I believe that I and the players are capable of adding something to make Benfica champions and competitive. We all know how difficult it is, we have teams of great quality. The goal is to be champions. Coaches of great quality have come through, the reasons are not for me to comment on, to bring the confidence and positivity the fans need. That is why I’m here"

5:14 p.m. - When did you learn of Benfica’s interest? "It’s very simple to answer. The first time they contacted me and we spoke, whether I was willing. Benfica were looking for a coach, when the president spoke to me, that means I was the first option. The invitation was clear and my answer was also clear."

5:12 p.m. - Is the goal to add titles? "Without a doubt, anyone at this club has to think that way, because of its greatness... always with the goal of adding something. Identity? Dominant. That will have to be the path to winning in Portugal. To be a team capable of bonding with the fans, with a very strong connection. We know the support will grow more and more if the team delivers. A positive and dominant way of playing that in my opinion represents Benfica."

5:10 p.m. - Marco Silva begins his presentation "First of all, I want to thank Benfica for the trust shown in me and my staff. It is a huge honor and a huge source of pride. Those are the two words I want to express. And add the third, the great responsibility that this role carries. The honor, the pride and the responsibility"

5:09 p.m. - Rui Costa starts speaking "Thank you for being here as we make Marco Silva official. Welcome, your success will be the joy of millions of Benfica fans. It is 79 years since Cosme Damião passed away; may this museum next year have more trophies than it has today."

5:05 p.m. - Marco Silva appears alongside Rui Costa, Mário Branco and Pedro Pinto at the Cosme Damião Museum.

4:45 p.m. - Marco Silva signs a two-year contract, plus an optional extra year if he wins the National Championship. His release clause is 15 million euros. The coach is returning to Portugal 11 years later.

4:30 p.m. - The ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m., at the Cosme Damião Museum.

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