Benfica’s president, former footballer Rui Costa, thanked the footballers on Saturday for winning the 38th title of national champions, after beating Santa Clara (3-0) in the 34th and final round of the I Liga. He did it in the middle of the locker room where he even sang the club’s national anthem.
“[Quero] Thank you all for this year, a very difficult year for everyone and for the club. The huge responsibility of not winning the trophy for years. [Por] We manage to give our associative masses the greatest pleasure, what they most want from us,” declared the leader “incarnate” in the dressing room of Estádio da Luz.
For Rui Costa, it is thanks for the “huge joy they have given to all Benfica fans”, but above all “for your work and sacrifice, and that of all the ‘staff'”.
“Thank you for believing from day one, and thank you on behalf of all Benfica people. We are national champions,” he said.
It is the former Portuguese international attacking midfielder’s first title as president of the ‘Águias’, having already won it as a footballer, also playing for Benfica, in 1993/94.
Benfica were crowned Portuguese football champions for the 38th time today after beating Santa Clara 3-0 at home in a match of the 34th and final round of the Portuguese First League.
Needing a win to mathematically secure the title, Benfica scored through Gonçalo Ramos (07 minutes), Rafa (28) and Grimaldo (60), from the penalty spot.
After a three-season ‘drought’, the ‘incarnates’ returned to celebrate a league title and finished the I Liga with 87 points, two more than FC Porto.
Source: DN
