On the eve of the Champions League match against Benfica, Juventus’ offensive outside forward Francisco Conceicao spoke in a press conference. Below are his answers to reporters’ questions.
What are Benfica’s strengths and vulnerabilities?
“In tomorrow’s match we will face a team that has a lot of quality and likes to keep the ball, but we want to focus more on what we can do and what we have been working on. We know Benfica’s main strengths, but we want to give a strong answer first on what we can do ourselves.”
How are you after the loss to Napoli? What is the morale?
“We want to respond in a strong way and we are working well, continuing to do everything the coach and staff ask of us to get up tomorrow playing at home in front of our fans. We want to get the three points in this important cup game.”
What charge does playing in Europe give you?
“It’s clear that Champions is an important competition that all players dream of playing. I am not an exception to the rule. I also get a lot of charge from the Champions League experience. Tomorrow especially we know that it is a very important game for us and for the club. We want to respond convincingly and get the victory.”
How do you experience internal competition within the team? How much does it stimulate you?
“The level of competitiveness of the roster is a good thing. It pushes us every day to give our best. We want to show in training our qualities and the skills we have. This helps both ourselves and the team to raise the level.”
Is there any aspect in the locker room that is not going down well with you and is not leading you to achieve your field goals?
“When we don’t win it is always difficult, but we know we are within a process. We are a very young team and obviously we want to win. We train every day with this goal, and we know that slowly we have to raise the level and improve things. However, we are convinced that wins will start coming naturally because of the way we train. The quality is all there.”
What did you say to Veiga to convince him to accept Juventus?
“When I heard that he could come here to Juve, I called Veiga and told him that he was coming to a big club that would definitely help him in his growth process. I tried to convince him because I know his qualities and I believe he can help us. Also as his friend, that’s what I tried to do, since we are national teammates.”
With Porto, you never scored at Benfica: will that be an extra stimulus?
“Yes, it is a fact that I have never been able to score a goal, so I hope to change that tomorrow and have this opportunity. However, the most important thing is for the team to win. If you tell me now that I don’t score and we win the game, I will sign right away because the three points for the team is the most important thing.”
Both Benfica and Juventus are not having an easy time: which team has a better chance of winning?
“These are two clubs for which the common goal is to win. It is very normal that when there is a negative result there is speculation and we comment on the moment, however, for me it is not important. We know what we have to do and that we are improving every day, slowly raising the level. As I said, I think these victories will start to come.”
Do the demands of the coach include associating you more with your teammates in the game or does he allow you more freedom?
“I try to use my qualities to serve the team while respecting the coach’s instructions. Clearly my qualities are specific, however I still try to play my game respecting the demands of the coach, giving my best in these terms. I try to improve myself every day and I am very ambitious as a player. What I want is always to try to make a difference to help the group. That’s the most important thing for me.”
What is Italian soccer giving you more than Portuguese soccer? In what do you feel you have improved?
“I think Italian soccer is much more competitive than Portuguese soccer. I have no doubt about that. Every team here has its qualities. I work every day because I always feel I can do a little more. I focus on that. Even when people say I played well, I always think about doing more goals and more assists. This is my mentality. The goal is to help the team make it win. I feel this is the right team.”
What is the lesson of the Naples defeat?
“I think that even from the negative results there are good things, as well as vice versa. If you take a good look at the first half with Napoli, I think we had a great performance. I think no team was able to do to Napoli what we did in the first half. Then of course the most important thing is the three points, and we didn’t get them. However, I have no doubt that we can take positives from the defeat. We also know that there are things to improve and we will contract on these for the future. I have no doubt that we will improve with the lessons learned.”
Since he is on loan, are you still 100% convinced that he will stay at Juve next year as well?
“I don’t know what the future holds for me. All I can do is give my best, help the club 100 percent. I am happy here. I have settled in well and I can promise to keep working. About the future I don’t know; I leave room for those who have to deal with these things. I just focus on giving my best and continue like this.”
In Benfica, Di Maria plays: is Thiago Motta’s former teammate a role model of yours?
“He is not just a model for me. Anyone who plays in that position knows what his qualities are. I always try to steal something from the better players to improve myself in turn.”
The article Conceicao: “Future? I am happy at Juventus” comes from JuveNews.eu.
