Leonardo Jardim explains the bust-up in Flamengo v Benfica | OneFootball

Flamengo beat Benfica (POR) 2-1 at the Algarve Stadium

Flamengo’s victory over Benfica (POR) this Saturday (11) featured a heated argument between the coaching staffs at the Algarve Stadium. Leonardo Jardim then explained how Benfica player Prestianni and an insult influenced the verbal clash. — Prestianni’s entry raised the emotional level because of what happened in the recent past. I told the players to play our football. We do not support what happened, but we were here to play our match against Benfica,” said Jardim, who added:

— We won on merit. We tried to calm the situation down. Our attitude had nothing to do with it. It had to do with a misinformed person who verbally attacked us,” explained the Rubro-Negro coach, and added:

— I am a calm and respectful manager. Many times, I am criticized for being so calm. But I do not accept being disrespected. I tried to approach them to tell people that rumors get out of hand. Then other individuals came up, grabbed me, and I don’t like that,” he stressed.

What insult caused the fight?

Just as Jardim did not detail the verbal attack, the cameras did not catch the insult that came from Benfica’s staff. However, it is possible to say that Prestianni’s entrance was the spark, since Flamengo’s players were marking the Argentine hard.

Why was Prestianni fouled so much?

That is because the Benfica forward became known for the racism accusation involving Vini Jr. during the match against Real Madrid (ESP) in the 2025/26 Champions League. The Argentine allegedly called the product of Flamengo’s youth academy a ‘monkey’ while covering his mouth.

Did Leonardo Jardim make the most of the mid-season training camp in Portugal?

— In terms of work, the group was committed. There are aspects we try to improve every day. We used these three matches to grow, gain match rhythm, and be prepared for the second half of the season. The clashes were all different.

– In some, we had more of the ball; others were more balanced; others had more transition play. It is important so we know how to perform in different moments of a match. I am satisfied, especially with the behavior and attitude. So, it is important for this group to integrate those who are arriving so we can return to competition as strong as possible

Did Flamengo fans make the difference?

— I spoke with president Rui Costa before the match about that. Flamengo’s ability to bring together immigrants, people in Portugal who work here… It is very important. Ending with a happy outcome is rewarding and leaves the staff grateful to those people.

– Some traveled, bought tickets that are not cheap, all to see the club they love. I am a calm and respectful person. Many times, I am criticized for being so calm. But I do not accept being disrespected. I tried to approach them to tell people that rumors get out of hand. Then other fans came up, grabbed me, and I don’t like that.

Did scouts monitor Johnny?

— Johnny is a player I had already brought to first-team training a few times. During this period, we adjusted some aspects. He is a player for the future and has what it takes to become a great full-back. He performs at a high level and is growing in his development. He can evolve with a lot of work. He is very interesting in that regard, in addition to his technical qualities and career potential.

Will Wallace Yan get more minutes?

— It is a process to develop the youngster in tactical and strategic terms. The forward is very good, but very emotional at times. He gained points regarding the future. The winger showed that he can be used more often. In terms of the game, I told the kid that the match was already emotional, so he needed to stay calm.

Is any academy player close to leaving?

— We have many players in the academy who interest other clubs. Sometimes the interest is more in the sense of ‘let’s see.’ Flamengo does not behave that way. If there is a departure, we will have to make a gain within football business. The club’s president handles those kinds of matters.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.