Bruno Lage has moved to clarify his recent remarks on Bernardo Silva, after his comments about the Manchester City midfielder sparked political debate in Portugal.
As relayed by local newspaper [**O JOGO**](https://www.ojogo.pt/4068599174/bruno-lage-bernardo-silva-quiseram-levar-para-o-lado-politico/), the Benfica coach, speaking on the eve of his side’s Champions League opener against Qarabag, insisted he never intended to intervene in the club’s presidential race and that his words had been misinterpreted.
_“On Bernardo Silva I said the obvious, what any Benfica supporter knows and says, by interpreting what Bernardo himself has said publicly,”_ he explained.
Lage stressed that he had already spoken with the player and remains convinced that _“one day, regardless of the coach or the president, Bernardo will return to Benfica.”_
He added that what was said was simply common sense, but _“they wanted to take it to the political side,”_ something he deeply regrets.
The manager also defended his earlier assessment of the transfer window. In his view, it was the first time his ideas fully aligned with the board. _“They asked if I felt more responsible for the market, and I said yes, because it was the only one in which my ideas converged with the board,”_ he recalled. According to Lage, that statement was nothing more than the vision of the coach.
At the same time, he underlined that he is not willing to remain silent if the campaign crosses certain lines. _“I will only step into politics if that red line we talked about is crossed. If I feel a candidate is attacking the team, I will have to step forward,”_ he warned. Otherwise, his sole concern is helping Benfica grow, win titles and play good football.
Asked again whether his words had given presidential hopefuls room to use him, Lage was clear that any confusion came from outside. _“I think I have already answered. People gave the interpretation they wanted. As a coach, I had those two comments. Then, they give the perspective they want.”_
By reinforcing that his focus lies strictly on the pitch, Lage is attempting to shut down the debate and keep the election storm from distracting his squad at the start of their Champions League campaign.