Camacho promises to build “a great Benfica team”

Spaniard impressed with improved facilities of Lisbon club

Jose Antonio Camacho was greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd of Benfica supporters as he arrived to take over the Lisbon club for a second spell.

The Spaniard was coach from 2002 to 2004 and enjoyed huge popularity among the Benfica faithful, a popularity that continued intact even when he left to take over Real Madrid. Camacho has signed a two-year contract and promised: “I’m here to produce a great team.”

Sitting alongside club president Luis Filipe Vieira, who never made a secret of the fact Camacho was his ideal coach, the former Spain manager confidently fielded questions put to him by a large contingent of journalists.

“I’m extremely happy to return to Benfica. I left a strong and competitive team when I left for Real Madrid. It’s a pleasure to see Benfica have changed a lot for the better,” began Camacho.

“Now the club has an excellent set-up (new Seixal training centre), befitting of a big club, and we have to produce a great team.”

Squad knowledge

“I have to get to know the squad and this will take a while. I’ve got an advantage in that five or six of the players were with me before and know me and my philosophy.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be bringing in new faces but I don’t agree with wholesale changes. I prefer to change little but to make the right choices.”

“It’s true that there’s not much time until the Champions League match against FC Copenhagen, but the players know the game is extremely important for Benfica, because what’s at stake is a place among the best of Europe.”

Santos holds no grudges

Meanwhile outgoing coach Fernando Santos refused to get drawn into a potential war of words with Vieira when asked for his reaction to his dismissal.

“A professional relationship has ended. It’s part of football. Each party will follow their separate paths. Benfica will find another person to take charge of the team, me, I don’t know when, will go down a different route,” said Santos.

“I can’t say that I leave a hurt man. At these moments it’s difficult to express one’s feelings. Maybe the right word to use is surprised.”

Related: Benfica axe Fernando Santos