Franck Haise notes the difference in level between Nice and Benfica: "We are not in the same category"

"Was Benfica too strong against Nice? Yes, I think they're stronger than us. We knew that before and at the end of the match, I think we have to admit that we gave almost the best we could. In those moments, you have to be very efficient. By scoring our chance at the start of the second half at 0-0, it can obviously change the situation. But over the match as a whole, we feel that we, by doing a lot, are struggling to create many clear-cut chances. And for them, we feel that it's easier. We're not in the same category. We knew it before, we tried to push them around, but at the end of the match, we know that we're not in the same category."

Were you ready for this match? We were ready to play that match, which, today, was not far from 100% of what we could have done tonight. And obviously, when I say that, it's because we lack it, against this type of opponent. Because it's an opponent who makes the Champions League every year. And who has experience, a different dimension. We're building. They're already used to being on the heights, on the summits. And we see the difference tonight, that's all.

How do we approach the return leg? We're going to approach it with the same determination we had at the start of this match. It's a match that, despite the disappointment, in addition to conceding a second goal like that, should make us grow. Tell ourselves, this is what the very highest level is. We're going to hope, we're going to strive for that very high level. But we're not there yet. The teams that are regularly in the top 16 in Europe, we're not there yet. That's just the reality.