Lage and Kokçu. “It’s an isolated episode. Always a professional athlete”

Benfica coach Bruno Lage returned to the subject of Kokçu in the press room to downplay the incident.

"It's the desire to win. Kokçu wanted to win and win, he wanted to score more goals. From the outside we understood that Renato had to come on. Regardless of the players' form, I make decisions. In the last game I understood that Renato should start and Kokçu came on well. Everyone wanted to score more goals"

Asked whether this is considered an episode of indiscipline, the coach of the reds responds:

"What I have seen is the behaviour of an athlete who has always been professional. This is an isolated incident. He has always behaved very well, both on and off the pitch. He has the desire to help the team. I look at the player's current situation and I make decisions calmly."

Benfica thrashed Auckland 6-0 on the second day of the Club World Cup.