Javi García thrilled by Benfica switch

Unable to break into the first team at Real Madrid CF, Javi García chose to go west in search of footballing fortune and has been a revelation in a reinvigorated SL Benfica side. The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder has scored twice in seven Liga games, with only SC Braga – who boast seven wins from as many matches – denying the Lisbon giants top spot. Also a regular in the UEFA Europa League, where Jorge Jesus's men face a crucial game against Everton FC on Thursday, the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship winner spoke to uefa.com about the sense of optimism within his team and how he is adapting to a new country.

uefa.com: Benfica have been playing quality football this season and getting good results. What are the main reasons behind this success?

Javi García: Essentially, work. We have been working hard in training. The squad is very united and each one of us knows what to do on the pitch. There's a good dynamic, but most importantly we have the modesty to recognise that this is only the beginning. We can only achieve our goals if we take it one game at a time and face any match as if it was the last of our lives.

uefa.com: What role has coach Jorge Jesus played in Benfica's current successes?

Javi García: The group has been working very well and, as I said before, we all know what to do, and of course that is mainly down to our coach. He is very determined, focused on every single detail and tactically demanding, which means that all the training sessions are very hard. We can only achieve good results with hard work.

uefa.com: What are the club's aims in the UEFA Europa League?

Javi García: Like any other competition, we want to finish top; in this case that means finishing first in our group in order to get through to the next stage. Our next match against Everton will be crucial in terms of the group. We will fight hard for the three points. We could have left Athens with a better result [than the 1-0 loss against AEK Athens FC on Matchday 2], but that's football and now we must look for a home win against Everton. It will be a very hard match but we are confident.

uefa.com: What about the Portuguese championship? Could this be Benfica's season?

Javi García: Yes. We have to think positive but, again, this is only the beginning. Things are going really well for us, but we know there's a long way to go until the end of the season and we cannot lose our focus. The fans are very happy and the squad is really focused on giving supporters something to celebrate. The way that the fans have got behind us has been impressive.

uefa.com: Do you dream of a senior call-up for Spain?

Javi García: All players dream of representing their country. I am no exception and one day I want to become part of the national team, but there are a lot of quality players in Spain who think the same as me. The most important thing is to keep up the good work at Benfica and try to play as many matches as possible. Then we'll see what happens.

uefa.com: You only arrived in Portugal a few months ago; how has it been so far?

Javi García: I knew that Benfica were a big European side but I didn't know everything about the club. I was astonished with what I found here and with what the club means to the majority of Portuguese people. In terms of facilities, it is at the same level as the best clubs in the world. History tells us that Benfica are the best Portuguese club ever and the supporters are truly amazing and loyal. Portugal is not so different from Spain. Lisbon is an amazing city, very beautiful and with the beach nearby, which is a great change from Madrid.