“This year we have already knocked out Manchester United in the group stage. Let’s see if we can carry on our good results against English teams in the quarter-finals.”
“The Champions League draw wasn’t bad for Benfica. Our objective for the quarter-finals was not to face Barca, Madrid or Bayern and that has been achieved. The team is looking very strong in terms of morale and we are going into this tie in the best possible moment of the season.”
“The tie is very open and even. If some people are making Chelsea favourites then that can even be good for us because it transmits all of the pressure onto them, but the truth is that either side can go through.”
“With the change of coach, it seems Chelsea have been positively transformed. That will give even more intensity to this tie. It’s 50-50 but I think we have a good chance to carry on making history.”
“We are not too happy at having to play the return in London, but at this stage of the competition and with the aim of being in the semi-finals, we will give it everything in London – whatever the result is at A Luz.”
“The team are fighting for everything this season and we are at a very high level. Things are going really well but we still haven’t won (anything). Now we are entering the decisive matches of the season and we cannot let up.”
“It’s logical that playing for the Spanish national team is one of my greatest dreams, but that, at the moment, and in my position, is more than difficult.”