Diogo Luís on Benfica’s season, the verdict is far from positive | OneFootball

Diogo Luís, a former Benfica player, assessed the Club’s current situation in a piece in which he frames the decisive stage of the season and the impact of the derby on the final title race, stressing that, in sporting terms, this has been a negative season given the expectations.

From a sporting perspective, he is blunt in pointing out the gap between investment and results, writing that "after a very high investment — around €140 million — Benfica reach April fighting only for second place. For a club of its size and history, that means one thing: in sporting terms, the season is very negative, especially considering the investment made and the expectations that were created," as reported by newspaper 'A Bola'.

On the financial side, Diogo Luís — who had already criticized Rui Costa — reinforces the importance of qualifying for the Champions League for the sustainability of Benfica’s project: "By securing second place, Benfica keep alive the possibility of reaching the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, and that makes all the difference. A place in the Champions League guarantees crucial financial income, boosts asset valuation, strengthens the brand, and triggers relevant contractual bonuses. At a club like Benfica, where there is a structural gap between spending and fixed operating income, missing out on the UEFA Champions League will have a very negative and significant direct impact."

The derby therefore emerges as an absolutely decisive moment, with the author underlining the demands of the situation by stating that "it is in this context that Benfica go into this derby: only victory matters. A draw or a defeat would all but rule the team out of second place and further worsen the perception of a poor season."

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