Noronha Lopes attacks, Rui Costa targeted: Benfica lacked a voice | OneFootball

João Noronha Lopes once again attacked Rui Costa, criticizing the lack of voice that Benfica had during the past season. The candidate for the Clube da Luz elections visited three cities in the north of the country last Saturday as part of his campaign, and spoke to Record newspaper in Braga, where he had dinner – this is not the first time he has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Eagles’ top leader.

"Rui Costa says he doesn’t forget what Benfica was four years ago. How could he forget? He was there. Rui Costa continues to pretend that the mistakes of previous boards and of his own board had nothing to do with him. Candidate Rui Costa forgets what President Rui Costa did or didn’t do, forgets Sporting Director Rui Costa, forgets Vice-President for Football Rui Costa," Noronha Lopes began by pointing out.

The candidate for the Eagles’ presidency continued: "But Benfica fans remember the player carousel, remember that we won one championship out of four, remember that Benfica was not defended when attacked and when harmed by refereeing decisions, and so, it’s time to turn the page and it’s time for a new era that brings more victories, more financial rigor, and a Benfica that is defended."

"I think that Benfica did not have a voice throughout the entire championship. Benfica cannot speak up only when there is nothing left to win. What happened at the end of the Portuguese Cup was extremely serious. And what happened was unacceptable. But Benfica was already being harmed before that and should have communicated earlier," he added, referring to Rui Costa’s actions last season.

Noronha Lopes concluded with further criticism of the Red President: "The president doesn’t have to speak every time, but there are moments when it is justified for the president to say something. Benfica cannot be defended with statements alone. It must often be defended by the president’s voice, who must show his face at very important moments of the season, and Rui Costa did not do that."

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