We Miss You Di

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Yeah We Know

After the AEK game DiMaria gave a brief interview to Argentinean radio "La Red" in which he stated that despite being very happy with the group, he has desires to move to another league. While in the past i have criticized DiMaria for statements such as these, i can no longer criticize him for it.
It's clear that DiMaria is at another level, and while there's nothing wrong for Benfica to have players of Dimaria's level(and we have a few) the reality of these days is that the Portuguese league isn't exactly known as one of the most competitive ones. It's understandable for a young player, with tons of potential, to want to get to the highest level possible, and that level is not the Portuguese league.
Then there's the financial aspect of it, while Benfica might be on the way to a healthy financial recuperation, the wages that other clubs offer throughout Europe, are out of range for Benfica's current situation.


So, there's nothing wrong for DiMaria to have these types of statements, but what bothers me, is the fact that ever since the chatter started about him making the jump, the Argentinean has shown a clear break in performance quality, something that in my opinion is the result of a lack of focus. The couple bad outings DiMaria had up until the Olhanense game, which culminated with him picking up a straight red on a foolish play, was the last straw for the fan base, and he didn't escape the usual jeers during the warm up for the AEK game.

Don't get me wrong, i think DiMaria is a tremendous talent, it took me a whole 2 minutes to realize that after seeing him play for the first time, but there's still a level of immaturity to his game(normal for his age).
The fact that he practically carried the team during the AEK game is evident of his superstar talent, and despite being directly involved in both goals, he was also the player whose ball loss originated the AEK goal. There's a DiMaria we all love, and there's a DiMaria which sends everyone over the edge. I have no illusions that Benfica will negotiate DiMaria at the end of the season, but in the meantime, he needs to re-focus on the team, and give his all to help the team. His time and deal will come, and his jump will happen, but right now Benfica should be the only thing he should worry about.

The fact that he will be out tomorrow's important game, and the reason why, will not be forgotten by fans, and although he somewhat reconciled with the fans on Thursday, he will need to show a lot more, and do a lot more to help the team, from here on out, if he is to be remembered by the Benfica faithful when he departs at the end of this season.

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DiMaria Speaks

In Today's "A Bola" DiMaria gives an interview where he talks about his rebirth, how much JJ has helped him and his ambitions as well as the clubs'

full interview translated after the jump..

"Third time is a charm".
After living in the shadow of Rodrigues and Reyes, sinking in the fear of being average, and the despair of not being able to confirm the "great promise of world football" label, Angelito bets all on the present season.
Pushed by JJ's unequivocal trust that is being deposited on him. "It was this that i was missing"
Interview byGonçalo Guimarães

A Bola - You have been one of the main figures of Benfica's pre-season. Do you feel that this is currently your best moment of form since arriving at Estadio da Luz 2 years ago?

Di Maria — I think so, little by little I'm starting to be at my real level. Mister Jesus gives me confidence and that is fundamental, it helps me grow. I have been a continuing starter with him, and it gives me tranquility, which makes me feel more loose inside the field and free to do what i know.

AB — Could this be the long expected year of DiMaria? Do you believe you will finally explode?

DM- I hope so. I started well and i want to continue like this. I want to explode and show all that i know. I want to be an indisputable starter for Benfica and win titles.

AB — Have Benfica fans seen you at your fullest?

DM — Only in flashes, in some games, but I can be so much better.

AB — What changed from years past to now?

DM— Before i felt that i was a common player, average, one more. In the first year with Camacho, Rodriguez arrived and i was relegated to the bench as a second choice. I don't like being on the bench, no player does, it's normal. I would always play 15-20 minutes and no player can do wonders in such little time. Then with Quique, Reyes arrived and the same thing happened. This year it's different, since the beginning, Mister Jesus has told me, and made it very clear that the starting spot would be mine, which makes me feel special, important and indisputable. I want to match that confidence and work my hardest to keep that status.

AB — Your competition is now Fabio Coentrao...

DM — He is an excellent players and a great person. I am sure there will be opportunities for both of as Benfica is involved in several competitions.

AB — Did you feel more at ease without the competition from Reyes?

DM — Those are club options, it's not up to me to comment them. I have shown that i want to be a starter.

AB — It seemed that you were down last year. Is it true that you wanted to leave Benfica?

DM — It's true that i was sad and down, as I wasn't playing much, i wasn't the first option, and couldn't show my worth, but i never said i wanted to leave. This pre-season i'm showing the real DiMaria but i can't still get better. It's a great feeling when i see the fans crazy about me. It's beautiful. I am very happy at Benfica and my family is also very happy in Lisbon. I want to stay a lot of years and I will only leave after being champion and winning titles.

AB — You went back to believing in yourself?

DM — Without a doubt. That is exactly what my dad tells me. I didn't have much confidence but i started to believe in myself again. And, i can't say it enough, i owe it to the support Mister Jesus gives me.It was that i needed, a coach that trusted in me in a continuing manner, and that told me the position was mine. Now i can have my head on straight and show what every one saw in the u20 WC and at the Olympic games. I hope that this is my year and that i can triumph.

AB — You also seem a stronger player. Does it have to do with the increase of muscular mass?

DM — Yes. I didn't put on a lot of weight but i increased both muscular mass and resistence. In past years i would rarely play 90 minutes, but against Portsmouth, for example, i played all 90 minutes and i could still go more without any problems. I am stronger in that aspect, i feel better.

AB — The secret of your strength, is owed to more of the mental aspect..

DM — Without a doubt. As I have said, before i didn't have the confidence or the tranquility that i needed. Sometimes i would read in the papers that i would play well and then i would go to the bench. The bench is not the right place for a player to grow, it's playing continuity. The fact that didn't happen would leave me very down.


AB— Are you surprised with Jorge Jesus?

DM — Very surprised in a positive way. The fact that the team is playing well, and winning is not a coincidence, it has to do with the way he works and the way he handles the players. He speaks to all, starters and non starters, he treats every one equally. Throughout the game, for example, he speaks to the players that are on the field and the ones that are on the bench, so that everyone knows what their team mates are doing right and wrong. This way we are always learning. He is a coach that makes us work a lot, but no one complains about that, on the contrary, we feel the results individually and collectively. He gives incentive and opportunities to all, he pushes us to the limit, never giving up on making us understand that we can get better. He is someone who has something special, and one of the best i have had through my career.

AB — Could he be the missing piece for Benfica?

DM — I hope so, He has already shown that he was a good choice. In very little time he changed the image of the team and has been leaving the fans euphoric. But our feet are on the ground and we are very relaxed. These pre-seasons victories are very important to give us confidence and morale, but they don't give us any points, we still haven't won anything. From the 16th, with Maritimo, it's important that we start well and win.


AB — Many times it was said that DiMaria didn't know how to defend, that he only knew how to attack. Now you do both...

DM — I'm not a defender, it's natural that i have my limitations defending., but that is a responsability that the whole team has, and that is an effort i am making to help the team. I run, I Press, and i try to close down spaces... I had to change my mentality a bit, as football is not all attacking. In training i also do defensive work which is making me a more complete player.

AB — Are you playing in the ideal position for your characteristics?

DM — Truthfully, if you notice i don't play only one position, i'm not limited to the left. I will do my position, Ramire's and Aimar's, because we have the freedom to change and go though the whole field.

AB — How has it been to play with so many countrymen?

DM — It's great to have team mates that are Argentinean and South American. Myself, Aimar, Saviola and Cardozo we have the feeling that we have been playing together for a lot of years, as we understand each other well. We can predict each others thoughts and movements.

AB — How do you deal with the news that you have clubs like Inter, Real Madrid, and Barcelona interested in you?

DM — It's a motivating situation for any player, it's a sign that my work is recognized, but my head is 100% with Benfica.

AB — What aspects do you feel you can better?

DM — Perhaps score more goals. I have to show up in the finishing zone and score. i am more confident now, it's possible.

AB — The rabona against Portsmouth, is that an image of your confidence?

DM — Most definitely. Last season i didn't have the head to do that, i didn't have mental stability . Now things come natural to me. Football is a serious game, but i also like to have fun and play with the ball. Because i felt loose and the game was decided, i decided to cross in that fashion.


AB — Were you expecting a Benfica so strong in this phase of the pre-season?

DM — I feel that the team's performances and results have exceeded everyone's expectations, but that's a sign that we are assimilating the ideas of Mister Jesus. We are growing every day, every game, and the fact that the same team always starts helps create routines and automatism between the players.

AB — Do you agreed with Maxi and Nuno Gomes that Porto are favorites?

DM — It only makes sense that they are. They are the holders and the team that has won the most in the past years, but we are working a lot to reach that objective. We are starting the season with the ambition of winning every competition in which we are in, as we have good players, good coaches, and good managerial personnel

AB — Winning the Europa League is a possible dream?V

DM — Off course we can reach the final and win, but we have to work very hard, lke we have so far.

#photo via www.slbenfica.pt

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Benfica News 11/11/08

Benfica announced today that DiMaria will be unavailable for an undetermined amount of time as he was diagnosed with a small tear in his peroneal nerve. DiMaria apparently suffered this injury in the game against Galatasaray. Benfica's clinical bulletin does not project a return date, but have announced the player will not be available in the next couple weeks.

Benfica will play Belenenses for the Liga Intercalar at Seixal Wednesday, and Quique has made 8 players available for Diamantino, who will be in charge of the team. These players are: Moretto, Zoro, Miguel Vítor, Fellipe Bastos, Balboa, Urreta, Makukula and Mantorras. I'm sure all of these players will be in the starting line up tomorrow.

Benfica's next opponent, Estrela da Amadora, is going through a serious financial crisis, most of the players have not yet collected a check since the beginning of the season and a few others have not been paid since April. The players have given the club another day to come up with a solution for the situation.
Although a player strike has been equated by the team in order to bring about a response from the club's directive, the strike will not take place against Benfica as the formal warning needs to be forwarded to the league 8 days in advance, so the team will be on the field this coming weekend against Benfica.

-END-



Type rest of the post here

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DiMaria Speaks

In an interview conceded to Argentine Daily, La Capital, DiMaria makes a brief balance of the past year and his call up to the olympic team, so far so good. In this interview, DiMaria also states clearly that he plans on spending one more year at Benfica and then "jump" to either Spain or England - "Mi deseo es estar un año más en Portugal y después pegar el salto a Inglaterra o España" were his exact words.
Now hold up, while i have no problem with ambitious speeches and setting high goals for yourself, I think DiMaria is getting a little ahead of himself.


Last season it was an up and down season for DiMaria, making 43 appearances out of 50 possible, 1 goal and 5 assists were his tallies(Freddy Adu did a lot more with 18% of DiMaria's minutes(2107 vs 393). If i had to rate his season, I'd give him a 7 out of 10, factoring in his young age, his first year in a different culture away from his family and a different style of futebol.
It's exactly these two things that DiMaria blames for his inconsistent season,along with the fact that he did not go through preseason(he was away at the U-20 World Cup, in the interview.
He also states in the interview, that his family joined him in Portugal in January and that helped him finish off the season on a high note, and that he did.

Bought by Benfica in one of those 2 for 1 deals, DiMaria was labeled as the next Simao, but came up very short in his first year. There's no doubt in my mind that the kid is talented, as soon as i laid eyes on him, and i could tell right away that he had considerable talent for his age, BUT, he still needs a lot of growing up to do.
At 20 years old, I think it's a bit premature to be thinking about playing in Spain or England in a years time, but then again, if he does in fact make the jump, it could only mean that he had a great year and that he helped Benfica in the process.

He is banking on having a great Olympic tournament and a good year with Benfica to make the jump, and while realistically at Benfica he will have plenty of chances to do that, I can't say the same thing about the Argentine Olympic squad, where he will most likely be blocked by much bigger household names such as Messi, Aguero, Mascherano, Sosa, Acosta, Banega, Riquelme and Lavezzi, only to name a few.

Word of advice - Come back with the gold medal, and some minutes. Get your head on straight, focus on improving your game from last season, help Benfica and be what the fans expect you to be - an instrumental player in a title contender team.
I'm not even asking that you surpass Simao, as he is a hard act to follow, just be Angel DiMaria, and help Benfica win the league title, once you have achieved that, then you can think about making the jump.
Until then my friend, you still have to run a lot of miles, make a lot of nets move and raise the stadium with your futebol. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot, your fair share of humble pie will also get you far.

It's sad that most foreign players, young and old, know nothing about the mystic of Benfica, and that is one of the reasons why Benfica has gone down over the years. I can bet that DiMaria knew very little about Benfica, except for what he might have read on wikipedia (I'm reaching here).
The truth is that, South American players see Portugal as a stepping stone, a gateway to the big leagues in Europe, it's not the club's prestige, it's not the famed sacred mantle, or even the money - even though the money is a little better than what they were making in South America - it's all about the trampoline. Off course, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, who hasn't worked at a shitty place, in order to get where they want to go? I certainly have.

Not too long ago, David Luiz spewed similar words to Terra, a Brazilian website, he then retracted them, claiming that it was a misunderstanding between him, his publicist and the aforementioned website.
It seems to me that maybe it's time for Benfica to start up a class on media relations for all the players, and while they're at it why not include Benfica Mystic 101 - a prerequisite for all young players, in the curriculum






Read the article here(Spanish Only)

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