João Rêgo was one of the young players who made their debut for Benfica's main team this season. A regular presence in the incarnates' B team this season, the midfielder made his debut for the main team in the rout against Arouca.

In an interview with the BPlay platform, João Rêgo said that he was excited about his debut for the senior team and gave some details about the duel.

"I was immediately excited, 'I'm going to train with the A team'! I got there and there were players that I had seen on television since I was little. We trained every day, always hoping, waiting, 'will another call come, or not?' And the message kept coming, until the last day of training when I was informed that I would be included in the squad for the game. I never thought I could be sharing the locker room with them. I was well received by my colleagues, I also had Spencer, who had been there more often and made me feel more at ease. The speed is different. I tried to do what I knew how to do, not inventing too much, trying to keep it simple to gain their confidence little by little. And it went quite well," began João Rêgo, who recalled the moment when Roger Schmidt told him that he would be called up for the duel.

"At the end of training, he came to me. He asked me if I was ready, I said I was and he informed me that I was called up for the game. When the coach said that, I stayed normal on the field, of course I was very happy, but as soon as I got to the locker room I exploded with happiness. When I was alone for a moment, I thought that all the sacrifices, the training sessions, all the trips I had made with my parents, everything would be worth it. To have the opportunity to be there, to step on the Estádio da Luz, even if I didn't go in. Just being there would be a dream in itself," he continued.

João Rêgo then made his debut for the seniors against Arouca, a match in which he ended up playing for six minutes.

"We concentrated at the Estádio da Luz, I asked to go with João Neves. We talked about everything a little bit. He asked me if I was ready, I said yes, he just told me to have fun and be calm. They tried to make a joke or two, they told me to sit in the empty seat, supposedly Di María's. I ended up not sitting down, Florentino said: 'Don't do that'. We crossed the bridge, a line of cars honking and shouting Benfica, it was incredible. It was a giant locker room, I couldn't even find the bathroom, with so many doors. When I went in and saw the shirt, it was a moment that really marked me. They came to call me, they said it was me. Ok, now you have to be ready. The coach said to play without fear, to play with courage, to do what I knew and to be calm. I listened, followed the advice and went to do my best," he concluded.

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