Rafa Silva key for Benfica? Former coach insists: these last games... | OneFootball

Benfica once again had Rafa Silva in the spotlight in the derby against Sporting, with the man in the red No. 27 shirt coming off the bench to score the winning goal. And, after yet another display of his ability, Henrique Nunes, the forward’s former coach at Feirense, believes he “will be even more important next season”.

“These last few matches can help Rafa get back to his best. He is a player who can be important for Benfica,” said Henrique Nunes, the coach who managed the forward in his first senior season, in an interview with Record newspaper.

“With the goals he has scored — especially in the derby, where he had just come on and scored straight away — he gained confidence. It is motivating and I believe he can have a good end to the season. When he was in Turkey, he was not training normally. With a pre-season behind him, he will be even more important next season,” he concluded.

Rafa’s return to the Luz was not easy, following a short spell at Besiktas marked by a lack of competitive action and physical problems. Having arrived in January, he was thrown in just a few days later, still lacking match fitness, but he quickly earned a place in José Mourinho’s plans, putting together a run of starts.

After a few less convincing displays, the forward has once again stood out in recent rounds, with goals against Nacional and in the derby. Against Moreirense, he is expected to return to the starting XI and is close to reaching a symbolic milestone: 100 goals for Benfica.

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