Otamendi: Benfica did not give up after being sent off. I wish Di Maria all the best in the future

June 29th, in the 1/8 final of the Club World Cup held today, 10-man Benfica lost to Chelsea 1-4 in overtime and missed the quarterfinals. Benfica defender Otamendi was interviewed after the game.

Chelsea scored first in the 64th minute of this game. Benfica scored a penalty in stoppage time in regular time to equalize the score, but Benfica was sent off at the beginning of the overtime, and then Chelsea scored three goals in a row. Otamendi first said: "Like all failures, the result is complicated, difficult, and sad because we wanted to keep going. But that's football."

Otamendi continued: "We have the chance and our opponents have the chance. After missing one player on the court, the situation became more difficult, but we never gave up and always tried to persevere. It was a tough game, we had the chance, we could have scored goals. Today our Club World Cup trip ended, and now it's time to rest and prepare for the next season in the best way afterwards."

The game was played in Charlotte, USA. In the 86th minute, due to local thunder and lightning in Charlotte, the game was interrupted for nearly two hours for the safety of the players, and it was not until it continued. Otamendi said: "The weather here is very bad. Our game was interrupted for more than an hour, but the two teams participating were the same. We then seized the opportunity to equalize the score and put the game into overtime."

Benfica had announced a one-year contract renewal with Otamendi this Friday. Otamendi said: "I am very happy because I play in a big club. Renewing the contract has never been a problem, it's just time. I just wanted to play this Club World Cup well before. Now I am very happy that I can play in Benfica for another year."

But another veteran of Benfica, Di Maria, confirmed to leave the team after the end of the Club World Cup, and this game is also a farewell match for Di Maria. Otamendi ended with: "There is a very good relationship between Di Maria and I have said, he is a legendary player in Argentina and Benfica, and his career has said it all. As a teammate and friend, I will miss him so much. I wish him and his family all the best in the future and I hope he can continue to enjoy football."