TEAM AND PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Every 2 weeks a team and a player is looked at in depth. We will look at a teams position in the league, evaluate their season so far and interview th particular manager about their performance so far. We will then look at a player from the team. We will look at his recent performances and evaluate the type of player he is and what his future is like. This week the team will be Benfica.

Click the link below to see the other spotlight

BRESCIA / ROCHEMBACK

UDINESE / SARR

RED STAR / ZIKOS

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

BENFICA

GARY HARGREAVES - FACT FILE

ABOUT BENFICA

NAME Gary Hargreaves AGE 22 ROLE Benfica Manager NATIONALITY English HONOURS FA Cup. In Semi Finals (Ath Madrid - Week 18). League Cup In Semi - Finals. Drew 3-3 to Ath Madrid, replay - week 18 European Cup In Final. Will play Porto. Knocked out Juventus in Semi Finals. League 4th season in charge. 1st season - 2nd (Division 1) . 2nd season - 5th (First Division). 3rd season - 3rd (First Division) . Currently 3rd in first division.

Benfica have been the nearly men of the top division in the game. So many times have Benfica come close to winning the cup they want most. The League Championship. Last season they finished third and once again were the ones that played second fiddle to the top two. As the season stands now, Benfica are in the same place they filled last season, third place. How long will it be until Benfica take that next step and break into the top two?? This season is still a possibilty. Benfica have the players to win the championship and the manager to take them there. Benfica have been one of the most consistent performers this season. This is shown in the way they are in all 3 cups. Possibly the biggest cup of all, the Europan Cup, is an enormous possibility. They will play fellow leaguers Porto in the final. Benfica will never be considered as one of the biggest teams in the game until they can win the one trophy that has eluded them. The League Championship. One thing is for sure, they will be in the top 3 next season. But will they be in the top two???

THE LEAGUE TABLE IN AND AROUND THEM (WEEK 17)

1st Juventus 38 pts, GD +13 2nd Porto - 34 pts, GD +14 3rd Benfica - 32 Pts, GD +11 4th Inter - 29 pts, GD +8 5th Madrid - 28 pts, GD +0

Goals for: 35 Goals against: 24

Played: 17 Won: 9 Lost: 3 Drew: 5

INFO ON BENFICA YOU MAY NOT OF KNOWN

Clean Sheets: 7 Leading Goalscorer:  Rivaldo (25 in 32) Most Man Of Matches: Rivaldo (9)

Captain: Juan Riquelme Penalty Taker: Emanuel Olisadebe + Rivaldo Player Of Season So Far: Rivaldo - Played consistantly well, adaptable, and scored important goals.

GARY HARGREAVES (BENFICA) - INTERVIEW

1. Gaz, What do you believe the key is to benficas success for the second season running? Well, I could say its a great team spirit and wonderful support from our loyal fans and a chairman thats willing to do watever it takes to get his beloved benfica some silverware to match the clubs massive ambitions... but to be honest with you its ,well its just great management isnt it? were would this club be without me?the gutter thats wer lol no just kiddin it really is all the things i mentioned.. this club is going places and im happy to be apart of that!! 2. What do you aim to achieve with Benfica? All that i can, simple as that.. as long as i remain the coach of this team i will do whatever it takes to bring the title to lisbon and the province of benfica..and i mean ANYTHING, if i have to send in the lebonese militia to wipeout the whole of the juventus and porto team i will do so..whoops shoudn't of said that out loud..please strike that last comment....or i will wipe you out too mr interviewer man! 3. Will Benfica be able to push on into the top 2 this season? Im really hoping that it goes down to the last game this season as it would be what this league deserves, its very close between porto, juve and benfica and with us playing juve on the last game of the season i wud luv to go there and win the championship in there own backyard. Just LOVE IT! 4. What is the atmosphere like in the dressing room and on the training ground? With the team on a great run at the moment it is fantastic, the lads and myself have got a great belief that everytime we go out on the field were gunna win .. you might think this is a little big headed but my players think that they are the best, think that they wont be beaten and think that they will win the championship, both cups and the euro cup to boot. But i woudn't want them anyother way. 5. If Benfica can’t push on for the title in the next couple of seasons, do you fear the fans will get annoyed at the fact you have come so near every time? Yes of course, i mean we've been in both cup finals, we've finished in 2nd place, 3rd place and again challenging on all fronts this season.. if theres not a trophy at the end of this season there will be blood, and i fear it could be mine! But thats irrelevant because there will be a trophy of some sort in the benfica cabinet this season..that should keep them blood suckin fiends off my back a while longer eh! 6. Will you be able to buy players in the near future or is the cash not there? With a club this big the cash is always there, we have great support so the money comes through the turnstyles and merchandising aswell as out of the chairmans pocket.. but we have sum talented players here and if we needed a cash injection to buy a player or 10 then we could always sell some of our talented players to fund that!! 7. Do you feel that you have the players to win the trophy thats eluded you, the League Championship?? In a word YES!...what you want me to go on? err well lets see over the last couple of seasons when our first team players were injured or suspended or doing time in jail for them drug running and money laundring allegations (of which i still deny any involvement in as i honestly thought when i gave the stadium keys to the players in question that they really did want to do some extra training and clean the stadium)..but yeh i thought we lacked a bit of strength in depth in certain areas but now with the size of our squad and you only need to take a look at our bench filled with quality that the times we've had injuries this season we have been able to replace quality with quality!! 8. Is there any messages you would like to give the loyal fans? Yes there is........please please please stop hailing abuse at olisadebe, it is not helping him or the club , i can see your anger at signing an ex porto (spit) player but the lads done good for us and if he helps us to the title then how can you complain.. i stand by my decision to sign any porto (spit) player that i feel will help us and bring the good times back to the stadium of light!! and finally ...C'MON U FICA BOYS!!!

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

RIVALDO (BENFICA)

NAME Vitor Borba Ferreira Rivaldo AGE 27 NATIONALITY Brazilian GAMES PLAYED Played 32 scored 25 ATTRIBUTES SH - 90, PA - 99, SP - 83, CO - 98, RE - 84, AG - 99, TA - 76, HE - 77, IN - 59. HONOURS Started carrer with Juventus and was withe the for nearly 3 seasons. Joined Benfica in season 3, week 20.

Rivaldo has been regarded for a long time as one of the greatest players in the world. He started his carrer with Italian giants Juventus. In season 3 he moved on to rivals Benfica. Rivaldo has been an ispiration for Benfica and has proved that he may be the best player Benfica have ever had. His tremendous range of passing and agilty coupled with great shooting and control, means he has all the attributes to be the best in the world. Rivaldo's performances have gone from strength to strength and is in hot form for both Benfica and Brazil. He remains to be a key player for both club and country. His excellent goal scoring record tells you how he's playing. For a man who executes his work behind the front two that is an amazing goal scoring record. Manager Gary Hargreaves will hope he can carry on his hot form and help Benfica make a late charge for the title.

RIVALDO (BENFICA) - INTERVIEW

1. How have you found it at Benfica since you moved here? Err i found it verrry eeezily as i was given a map before i moved here (manager steps into explain)... ah rite i see sorry you must forgive .. all the players have been great, the fans have welcomed me with open arms and im enjoying my football very much 2. Would you ever consider moving clubs if a championship winning club came in for you? iii err don't undastand watz you mean...this IS a championship winning club ,this ieez a big big club and im very happy here and unless benfica want 2 sell me i will not be going anywere 3. How are you finding it here in Portugal? Well obviously it is like a 2nd home to me already speaking and understanding the language and the weather is fantastico and also de women are very pretty and were very revealin clothes and are err wats the word? Very err friendly towards me ..and me like that 4. How do you find playing in this league? Well as i was previously at juventus and before that barcelona i have spent most of my playin career here and it is de place to be, this is were all the best players in the world play..at times it is tough with some teams, not mentioning any names, that play a very aggresive game and the referees, well lets just say that im sure the have guide dogs!! 5. Do you think that you personally have been playing the best football of your carrer? Yes definately, im enjoying benfica's style of play and get on well with all my team mates wich helps me as a footballer to play to the best of my ability ..and i think i am probably going to get footballer of the year as i deserve it!! 6. Are you enjoying playing at a club that is playing well? Of course, if all your teams playing well then your playing well and i cant just say that benficas great performances are down to me this season.. maybe me and my fellow south american otero maybe ..but im lot better than him and a lot more good lookin too..he has a funny curly hair cut and it sometimes gets in his eyes when he shoots for goal so its maybe just look that hes scoring a lot this season too!! 7. What do you attempt to achieve at Benfica. Do you think your team will be able to push on for the top 2 places in the division? Yes i hope so but err i dont know.. err well yes maybe, tut humph err i grow tired of all these questions, rite now im usualy sat by my full sized outdoor swimming pool with my maids wafting them big palm leaves as i eat strawberrys and drink bucks fizz...am i gettin payed for this? WAT? im not? k 1 more question and im going! hurry it up aswell. 8. Name one player who would be in your all time dream team and why that player? me because im great ..ciao! What an arrogant and cocky.....