Aguiar interview (now translated!)

[Guest Jeffery S.]

from http://www.record.pt/noticia.asp?id=486327&idCanal=11

Text in Portuguese, where Aguiar considers he deserves more respect from the club after ending contract and not having a word with them before going on holiday. Mentions that he was the 12th most used player on the team, starting 16 games. He mentions that he always felt he had the respect and support of the coach Camacho, even from the pre-season, and in critical games where he was played or subbed in in crucial moments -such as in the away win at Sporting Lisbon or the Cup final. Also says that now he sees how fans and those around the team look at him with more respect and consideration. And insists that his age -32- should not be a factor as he is one of the fittest players on the team.

My opinion is that until they sort out their coaching situation Fernando's comments about Benfica are premature, since Benfica is certainly in the air about a lot of their players. If Camacho goes to Real Madrid, they look for a new coach, and the process to decide on a new team will be a bit slow. So take it easy Fernando, your time will come (yet again).

MÉDIO ESTÁ INCONFORMADO E DIZ TER SIDO PEÇA IMPORTANTE

Fernando Aguiar: «Merecia mais respeito do clube»

Fernando Aguiar está magoado com os responsáveis do Benfica. O internacional canadiano termina contrato no final do mês e partiu para férias sem que algo lhe fosse comunicado. "Não recebi uma palavra. Penso que as pessoas do clube deviam dizer-me qualquer coisa. Merecia mais respeito", refere o médio que entende ter feito o suficiente para continuar de águia ao peito.

"Fiz bastantes jogos [Fernando Aguiar foi o 12º jogador mais utilizado do plantel com 1.421 minutos sendo titular por 16 vezes] e considero que fui uma peça muito importante para a equipa porque quando começámos a subir de forma estive lá", recorda o médio, apontando o momento da época em que se soltou: "Quando o Petit se lesionou, fiz uma série de jogos seguidos e a equipa esteve bem. Aí superei a desconfiança dos adeptos."

Por tudo isto, o médio está inconformado. "Acho que, por tudo o que fiz, merecia continuar no Benfica. As pessoas já olham para mim de uma maneira completamente diferente, pois antes havia quem dissesse que só sabia jogar contra equipas pequenas e provei que não é bem assim", frisa, recorrendo a dois encontros decisivos para o Benfica.

"Em Alvalade, entrei a meia hora do fim com o Geovanni e a partir de então começámos a jogar à bola e a controlar o jogo. Ainda tive uma oportunidade para marcar e acabou por ser o Geovanni a fazer o golo da vitória. Com o FC Porto, no Jamor, estava a aquecer e a ver que estávamos a perder espaços no meio-campo. Quando Camacho me chamou estava mesmo a pensar que era a hora certa para entrar. Entrei e o certo é que voltámos a vencer."

«Com Camacho sinto que podia ter continuado»

O internacional canadiano está convencido que ficava na Luz caso o técnico espanhol renovasse. "Logo na pré-época senti que ele gostava muito de mim, o que permitiu soltar-me e praticar o meu futebol. Até no jogo com o Sporting, na Luz, em que saí ao intervalo, vi que ele confiava em mim", diz, acrescentando: "A única coisa que tenho como certa no meu pensamento é que se Camacho tivesse ficado eu era uma forte hipótese para ficar no plantel."

Fernando Aguiar responde ainda aos que apontam a sua veterania como causa para a saída da Luz. "Não posso acreditar que é por ter 32 anos que pensam que não sou capaz de continuar. Isso é absurdo! Quem corre e luta tanto dentro de campo como eu...", afirma, explicando as lágrimas que derramou no relvado do Jamor. "Temos a mania de estar sempre a dizer que nunca mais acaba a época e os treinos, mas quando o árbitro apitou e chegou mesmo o fim da época já não foi bem assim. É que fiz grandes amizades no Benfica... mas a vida continua", reage.

«Maniche foi um pouco maldoso»

O médio benfiquista foi protagonista de dois lances polémicos na final da Taça, um em que foi atingido por Maniche e outro em que atingiu Derlei. Eis a explicação do próprio. "Com o Maniche, não senti nada na altura. Nem me apercebi se me tinha tocado com a cabeça, o ombro ou o cotovelo. Só depois, no jornal, é que vi que ele foi um pouco maldoso. Já com o Derlei, só queria dar-lhe um toquezinho mas sem qualquer maldade. Se fui duro peço-lhe desculpas."

Autor: NUNO MIGUEL FERREIRA

Data: Quarta-Feira, 19 de Maio de 2004 02:43:00

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Translation of article from Record (excuse my rough Portuguese):

THE MIDFIELDER IS UNHAPPY AND CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TEAM

Fernando Aguiar: «I deserved more respect from the club".

Fernando Aguiar is upset with those in charge at Benfica. The Canadian international is out of contract at the end of the month and is going on holiday without being spoken to. "I have not heard a word. I think that the people in the club should say something to me. I deserved more respect", said the midfielder, who thinks he has done enough to continue to wear the club shirt.

"I played quite a few games [Fernando Aguiar was the 12th most used player on the squad with 1,421 minutes, starting 16 games] and I think that I was an important piece on the team because when we began to get on form I was there", he said, recalling the moment in the season when this happened: "When Petit was injured, I played a number of games in a row and the team did well. That was were I overcame the uncertainty of the fans".

This is why the midfielder is upset. "I think that for all that I did I deserve to continue at Benfica. People look at me in a completely different light now, since before there were those who said that I only knew how to play against smaller teams and I proved that this is not the case", he observed, going back to two decisive games for Benfica.

"In Alvalade (late season away match vs. Sporting) I came on at the hour with Geovanni and from that point on we began to play the ball and control the game. I even had a chance to score and in the end it was Geovanni who scored the winner. Against Porto, at Jamor (Cup final in Lisbon) things looked bad (??) and we were losing space in the midfield. When Camacho called me I was thinking that it was the perfect time to go in. I went in and the truth is that we came back from then on to win."

"With Camacho I feel I could continue"

The Canadian international is convinced that he would continue at the Luz stadium if the Spanish trainer re-signs for Benfica. "In the pre-season I felt that he liked my play, he let me relax and let loose just to play my game" he said, insisting on the idea: "The only thing that I am sure of in my mind is that if Camacho were signed again I would have a good chance to make the squad again".

Fernando Aguiar responds to those who point to his condition as veteran as a cause for his leaving Benfica: "I cannot believe that it is because I am 32 that they think that I can't go on. That is absurd! Who else runs and fights on the field like I do...?" he affirms, going on to explain the tears he shed after winning the Cup at Jamor. "We have the obsession to always be saying that the leagues and training never end, but when the ref whistled the end of the game and the season with it that was not the case. You see I have made great friendships at Benfica...but life goes on" he added.

(The final comments refer to a foul received by Maniche and another he made on Derlei in the final, both of which he considered unimportant).

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Translation of article from Record (excuse my rough Portuguese):

THE MIDFIELDER IS UNHAPPY AND CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TEAM

Fernando Aguiar: «I deserved more respect from the club".

Fernando Aguiar is upset with those in charge at Benfica. The Canadian international is out of contract at the end of the month and is going on holiday without being spoken to. "I have not heard a word. I think that the people in the club should say something to me. I deserved more respect", said the midfielder, who thinks he has done enough to continue to wear the club shirt.

"I played quite a few games [Fernando Aguiar was the 12th most used player on the squad with 1,421 minutes, starting 16 games] and I think that I was an important piece on the team because when we began to get on form I was there", he said, recalling the moment in the season when this happened: "When Petit was injured, I played a number of games in a row and the team did well. That was were I overcame the uncertainty of the fans".

This is why the midfielder is upset. "I think that for all that I did I deserve to continue at Benfica. People look at me in a completely different light now, since before there were those who said that I only knew how to play against smaller teams and I proved that this is not the case", he observed, going back to two decisive games for Benfica.

"In Alvalade (late season away match vs. Sporting) I came on at the hour with Geovanni and from that point on we began to play the ball and control the game. I even had a chance to score and in the end it was Geovanni who scored the winner. Against Porto, at Jamor (Cup final in Lisbon) things looked bad (??) and we were losing space in the midfield. When Camacho called me I was thinking that it was the perfect time to go in. I went in and the truth is that we came back from then on to win."

"With Camacho I feel I could continue"

The Canadian international is convinced that he would continue at the Luz stadium if the Spanish trainer re-signs for Benfica. "In the pre-season I felt that he liked my play, he let me relax and let loose just to play my game" he said, insisting on the idea: "The only thing that I am sure of in my mind is that if Camacho were signed again I would have a good chance to make the squad again".

Fernando Aguiar responds to those who point to his condition as veteran as a cause for his leaving Benfica: "I cannot believe that it is because I am 32 that they think that I can't go on. That is absurd! Who else runs and fights on the field like I do...?" he affirms, going on to explain the tears he shed after winning the Cup at Jamor. "We have the obsession to always be saying that the leagues and training never end, but when the ref whistled the end of the game and the season with it that was not the case. You see I have made great friendships at Benfica...but life goes on" he added.

(The final comments refer to a foul received by Maniche and another he made on Derlei in the final, both of which he considered unimportant).

[Luis_Rancagua]

I was wondering if Yallop will call-up Fernando Aguiar for the Wales friendly??? I hope Fernando does not bail-out on us.

[nolando]

Thanks for the respectable translation, Jeffrey! I think that if Dasovic up until recently could have been an important piece of the Nat's midfield, then Aguiar surely must be given a chance. Especially if he's out of contract I can't imagine whay he wouldn't grab the chance to showcase his talent- and give us a peek too.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Reports today are confirming that Camacho will surely go to Real Madrid if they accept his tough conditions (he's no b.s. in terms of having control of line-ups, signings). The odds on favourite for Benfica is Luis Fernandez, the former French international now coaching Espanyol. Hear too that Mourinho is confirmed at Chelsea, is that right? With Sporting also looking for training changes, that is a lot of movement at the top in Portugal coaching.

Frank Cunha at BigSoccer, who follows Portugal, mentioned without confirmation (last I looked) that Aguiar would not continue at Benfica but would have no problem to find a team in the top flight. As his family is near Porto I would expect a team in the north. But maybe we can convince Benfica's new coach to sign him for one more beautiful season.