Courtesy: UEFA.com


Betão keeps cool as heat rises

Saturday 24 April 2010

Brazil international forward Betão believes the pressure will be on SL Benfica in front of their home fans when they meet holders Interviú Madrid in Sunday's final in Lisbon.

by Paul Bryan & Lucho Mera from Lisbon

In his second season with Interviú Madrid, Brazil international forward Betão is preparing for another UEFA Futsal Cup final with the Spanish Liga side. Ahead of Sunday's showpiece encounter with SL Benfica at the Pavilhão Atlántico, the 31-year-old sat down with UEFA.com to talk about his first steps in the sport and what his latest team will need to do to win a fourth Futsal Cup.

UEFA.com: You are now one of the most recognised players on the futsal scene yet how did it all begin for you?

Betão: I started playing futsal at a very young age in the suburbs of Sao Paulo in Brazil; maybe I was eight or nine. In terms of my professional career, the real explosion came in 1997 when I signed for General Motors which is considered a big team in my home city. There I quickly grew physically and mentally.


UEFA.com: Of the titles you have won which do you remember with particular fondness?

Betão: Without doubt last year's UEFA Futsal Cup which I won with Interviú was something very special. The other medal I keep well guarded is the one I was awarded after winning the Spanish Cup while playing with Autos Lobelle Santiago. As a team who nobody expected much of we managed to beat Interviú in the final.


UEFA.com: Was there extra motivation to do well here having not enjoyed your best season on the domestic front?

Betão: In the opening half of the Liga we didn't lose a game. But we're Interviú and so when we started to lose a few people said we weren't the same team. We didn't do particularly well against Araz Naxçivan on Friday but our morale is high and we'll raise our level for the final.


UEFA.com: How would you evaluate SL Benfica, your opponents in the final?

Betão: We saw some of their semi-final against Luparense C/5 in which they countered with real pace. We can't let them do that on Sunday. We know it's going to be hard especially with them playing at home in front of a set of fans that I have to admit are incredible. The pressure will be on Benfica though; we're used to playing finals. We'll look to open out from a strong defence in order to achieve victory.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Hosts hopeful of ending holders reign

Saturday 24 April 2010

SL Benfica may have home advantage in Sunday's final, but Interviú Madrid coach Jesús Candelas feels his side can "maintain control and manage the situation" as they bid for a fourth title.

by Paul Bryan from Lisbon

SL Benfica coach André Lima was in confident mood ahead of Sunday's UEFA Futsal Cup final with Interviú Madrid, insisting his side were "afraid of nobody" as the hosts sought to deprive the holders of a fourth title.

An impressive 8-4 semi-final win against Luparense C/5 on Friday night allowed O Glorioso to set up a decider with Interviú in what will be a repeat of the 2004 showpiece which the latter won over two legs for the first of their record three successes.

After going down by 4-1 in Spain, Benfica's 4-3 second leg win in the Portuguese capital was not enough to prevent the Green Machine from leaving Lisbon with the trophy, the memory of which still pains former player Lima, who preferred to focus on the improvements made since then.

"Tactically, technically and psychologically we are better than in 2004," the coach told UEFA.com. "The team was obviously younger back then but a lot of the players are still with us today. The group we have here has a lot of self-belief and that's what makes us hard to beat and you'll see that in the final."

Having impressed many on their way to the finals – and in particular during a high-paced game against Luparense in the last four – Benfica are in fine spirits going into Sunday's encounter at the Pavilhão Atlántico. With the home support expected to provide a passionate support, Lima hopes his team will deliver on the night.

"From the beginning of the elite round stage we have grown a lot," he said. "Reaching the final we have our reward and what comes from now on will be like a profit, but we believe now is the time to win a major title."

Undeterred by the fact his team will not only have to deal with a team in form but also a vociferous local support, Interviú coach Jesús Candelas was relishing an opportunity to highlight the merits of the sport he loves. "We're hoping for a full arena for the final so we can demonstrate just how attractive this sport is," said Candelas, in charge in 2004 in the first of his spells at the helm.

"The important thing will be to make sure we keep possession in their half and get towards their goal which is where they have some problems," he said. "Benfica are an exceptionally quick team and if they steal the ball from you in their half they can really hurt you. In a final like this you must be able to maintain control and manage the situation when things aren't going your way; that will be crucial."


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com