APOEL soccer player Dalcio gave an interview to the Portuguese newspaper “A Bola” ahead of Benfica’s European match against Omonia at GSP Stadium.
He shared his thoughts on the match, analyzed the “Greens,” and spoke about his time with the “Blue-and-Yellows” as well as the Cypriot league.
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He also commented on the presence of David Luiz and Ricardo Sa Pinto in Cyprus.
Here’s what he said in detail:
How are things going in Cyprus? “I’m happy here. Things are going well; the club gave me a very warm welcome, and I feel right at home. APOEL has given me everything.”
And what about life in Cyprus? Is it similar to life in Portugal? “It’s calm, peaceful, and even safer than in Portugal. Much safer. I live in Nicosia, which is quieter than other cities. My wife and son are here with me.”
And on the field, how are things going? “Right from the start, we faced the teams considered favorites for the title and had poor results against AEK and Anorthosis. We dropped important points, but there’s still time to bounce back.”
APOEL, like Omonia—Benfica’s opponent—seems to be one of the most important clubs in Cyprus. Is that true? “Yes. When I came to Cyprus, I only knew APOEL, but there’s also Anorthosis, AEL, and their rival, Omonia. Now there’s also Pafos, Aris, and AEK. Aris and Paphos FC have significant financial clout.”
Paphos has David Luiz: “Exactly. They have a very strong team.”
Is he the biggest name in the Cypriot league? The league’s star? “Right now, yes. He’s 39 years old, but in terms of recognition, he’s a legend. He’s the biggest name. It can’t be anyone else.”
Do you still remember the match you played against Benfica two years ago? “It was my first Champions League match. I’d already played in the playoff qualifiers against Bodø/Glimt, but it’s different. The match was at our home stadium, although I would have preferred it to have been at Benfica’s stadium, Da Luz. Unfortunately, one of my teammates got injured early on, and I wasn’t even ready when the coach called me in. I remember thinking, “Okay, now I’m going in.” Unfortunately, we lost, but I was left with the feeling that I had played in the Champions League for the first time—and against Benfica, no less. They were the favorites.”
And now, facing Omonia in the UEFA Europa League, how do you think things will turn out for Benfica? “Honestly, Benfica is far superior. We can’t compare the rosters, the fan bases, or anything else for that matter. Omonia’s advantage is that they can always pull off an upset at home. The fans never stop cheering, singing, and encouraging the team.”
Should Benfica prepare for a heated atmosphere in Cyprus? “Yes, yes. Not just because of the fans, but also because it’s still hot. The temperature is almost 30 degrees. It’s a different kind of heat—drier. However, from what I can see, this year’s Omonia is quite different from last year’s, as it has lost several key players. I believe Benfica will win this game.”
What are Omonia’s strengths? “They like to move the ball around and have very fast players on offense. They’re a team that likes to control possession. They also have Fabiano Freitas in goal, who has played for Porto. They have center back Koulibaly, who is very strong—really, very strong. They also have French forward Dioné, who is very mobile, even though he’s over 30 years old. He’s physically strong, never stands still, and is constantly looking to get the ball behind the defense. He’ll give Benfica’s back line a hard time. Then there’s Evandro, who makes excellent passes. Sometimes he plays as a winger and other times as a playmaker. He’s a good player. In my opinion, he’s the best player on the team.”
Will Benfica face a team that wants to control the game? “Exactly. And they’ll be especially motivated. Playing against Benfica is always an extra motivation. Yes, Benfica is usually a Champions League-caliber team and has the roster to compete in that tournament. However, they’ll have to get a lot of things right from the very first minute to prove that they’re truly the favorites.”
What weaknesses might Benfica identify in this Omonia team? “They don’t like not having possession of the ball, so to counter them, you have to keep the ball. And Benfica is very good at that. Also, Omonia leaves some space in midfield, and their players aren’t particularly aggressive when pressing. I believe Benfica can gain an advantage in the center.”
Do you watch Benfica’s games? “I watch almost all of their games. I only miss the ones I can’t see, but I watch most of them. They play good soccer and have a very fast attack. Pavlidis is doing very well. I believe Omonia will have a very hard time keeping up with Benfica’s pace.”
Do you think this year’s Benfica is stronger than the one you faced under Bruno Lázaro? “As a team, I think so, although that team had a lot of quality players. This year’s team is more cohesive. You see that one player leaves, another comes in, and everything keeps running smoothly. Benfica was an attacking team, but not like the one today. You know you’re going to enjoy watching them play. They have players on offense who do magical things, so it’s a real treat to watch today’s Benfica.”
You played for Benfica ten years ago, but you left after two seasons with the reserve team: “It feels like it’s been longer than that… (laughs). Pepe, who plays for Pafos, is still a very good friend of mine. We played together for almost two years at Benfica B, formed a partnership in midfield, and developed a strong bond.”
Ricardo Sa Pinto is the coach of Paphos FC. Had you worked together at Belenenses? “Yes, we worked together at Belenenses, and then we met again here at APOEL. We won the league together, and then he left. I left a little later as well. When I returned to Cyprus last year, Sa Pinto took over as head coach of Paphos.”
