Benfica candidate presses Rui Costa: “Says he won’t forget...” | OneFootball

Rui Costa was once again criticized by João Noronha Lopes, due to the fact that he is not very vocal in defending Benfica's interests. The candidate for the Presidency of Clube da Luz had a busy day last Saturday, due to his campaign. He spoke with the newspaper Record in Braga, where he had dinner, and once again criticized the incumbent President.

"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 administrations and his own administration had nothing to do with him. Candidate Rui Costa forgets what President Rui Costa did or didn't do, forgets the sporting director Rui Costa, forgets the vice-president for football Rui Costa," Noronha Lopes began to point out.

The candidate for the Eagles' Presidency continued: "But the Benfica fans remember the player carousel, remember that we won one championship in four, remember Benfica not being defended when attacked and when harmed by refereeing, and therefore, it's time to turn the page and it's time to have a new era that brings more victories, more financial rigor, and a Benfica that is defended."

"I think that Benfica had no voice throughout the entire championship. Benfica cannot speak only when there is nothing left to win. What happened at the end of the Portuguese Cup was very serious. And what happened was unacceptable. But Benfica was already being harmed before and should have communicated earlier," he remarked, following up on Rui Costa's actions last season.

Noronha Lopes concluded with more criticism of the incumbent President: "The president doesn't have to speak every time, but there are some moments when it is justified for the president to say something. Benfica cannot be defended with statements. It must often be defended by the president's voice, who must step up at very important times of the season, and Rui Costa did not."

Also, check out Noronha Lopes' message before Porto - Benfica:

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