Benfica President Rui Costa and coach Roger Schmidt thanked them for the support they have received throughout the season, which has led the team to their 38th Portuguese football title.
With the atmosphere in full swing, the Benfica team arrived at the Marquês de Pombal around 1:30 a.m., the crowd parting for the panoramic bus that was driving down Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo and was greeted in unison with the chant of “The Champion is back.”
The Benfica players hopped on the bus in euphoria and descended onto the stage set up right in front of the Parc Eduardo VII and in front of the statue of the Marquis de Pombal.
Goncalo Guedes, João Mario, Morato, Chiquinho and João Neves were among the first to take the stage, and the championship cup changed hands.
All of them were wearing Benfica shirts with the number 38 on the back, which confirmed the number of national titles “embodied”, and tuned in to the celebrations with great enthusiasm.
Captain Otamendi, whose contract is ending, was the first to speak, but he did not say what the fans wanted to hear, that he would remain at Benfica, despite the requests made.
“It was the title that I wanted the most since I arrived at Benfica. We managed to give Benfica the 38th national title you all deserve. I want to thank you for your support,” he said.
In the same vein, João Mario promised to enjoy winning the title and vowed to fight for an extension next season.
In turn, coach Roger Schmidt recalled what he said about a year ago, when he was introduced as the coach of the “embodied”: “who loves football, he must love Benfica.
“A year later it happened. I thank you for all your support. I am very proud of my team. This atmosphere is incredible. Benfica are champions! We deserve to be champions, we have played the best football and have always followed the philosophy of Benfica. thank you benficists,” he said.
President Rui Costa concluded the round of speeches and emphasized that winning this championship represents the unification of all Benfica fans.
“We are national champions, enough asking 38. It’s already here. I thank all this wonderful working group and all of you who believed from day one that we would become national champions. The title that belongs to our union is Benfica,” he concluded.
Lisbon’s symbolic stadium, which always hosts Benfica’s national title celebrations, has become too small to accommodate the thousands of fans gathered here.
Gradually it filled up until people ended up in a jar of sardines. It was a real open-air disco. Supporters dispersed as best they could, some sat on traffic lights and vertical signs.
Red was the predominant color, although a few black and yellow jerseys from alternate kits were seen. The scarves were part of the fans’ attire, and there were balloons with the number 38 representing the title won that Saturday, as well as a fan right in front of the stage with the national champion’s cardboard cup.
The night is cooling down, but the atmosphere is far from the same. Always jumping and singing the songs that are usually played in the “embodied” redoubt, both on the Estádio da Luz and in the two pavilions, the fans kept up the good spirits all night long and… human warmth.
Shortly before midnight, the Benfica speaker, along with DJ Kamala, took the stage at the Marquês de Pombal to further enliven the atmosphere. Brothers Nelson and Sergio Rosado of the duo Anjos and Antonio Manuel Ribeiro, lead singer of UHF, also warmed up the atmosphere at a time when the Benfica team had already left Estádio da Luz.
The festivities ended with fireworks after performances by Otamendi, Joao Mario, Roger Schmidt and Rui Costa.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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