Echeverri, Karouani, Ríos exit; Marco Silva before Marítimo-Benfica | OneFootball

Benfica will play their fifth Liga Portugal Betclic match this Saturday, September 5. Marco Silva’s team, who previewed the clash, travel to face Marítimo on matchday 5 of the competition and want a win to stay in the title race, at a time when Bruma’s situation is still unresolved.

What do you expect from Marítimo?

I agree that they have started with good results, which is good for a team that has returned to the Primeira Liga. They are an aggressive team on their own ground, with a good atmosphere. Teams that get promoted usually come in on a run of wins. They will make things difficult for us and we will have to be at our best.

Karouani and Echeverri

As for Claudio [Echeverri], he is clearly a central player and can be a third midfielder. It has been said that he could be a winger, but we do not believe in that option. We believe he will be an attacking midfielder or a second striker and that he can give us a lot in between the lines. Souffian [Karouani] will give us a more attacking option than the other two full-backs. It is worth highlighting Dahl’s good start to the season and Neto’s development. A right-back who was not in the plans left — Dedic — and we strengthened on the other side.

Ríos’ departure

From the moment he is our player, a return is always possible. I never had a conversation with him in which I said he could not come back. He arrived later and knew it would be difficult; we brought in another player for the central area, which was Palhinha, and there are other options for the number 8 position. As for the loan, it was a personal choice, just like Ivanovic. A word on him as well: he went somewhere he could get more minutes. He was signed to play with two strikers, which is where he feels most comfortable. But they are both Benfica players and the door is always open.

Midfield with Palhinha and Fredrik

They can both play... just as Enzo and Barreiro can play. We will see. I can tell you that Fredrik is in the squad. You know he has had problems and has not played much, but we need him back quickly. Squad? I can tell you that we are ready to fight for the title.

Trubin and Lukebakio

Trubin will stay. Lukebakio? We do not have another wide player with his characteristics. You can say he has not been playing, but those are decisions; still, we need a player with those characteristics.

Enzo Barrenechea and Lukebakio

Enzo is available. Dressing-room egos? The players know they have to look at their careers, and the investments that were made do not mean they have to play. In terms of where they are in their careers, I understand better when they think about the space they have in the squad. It is up to me to motivate them. We have four or five wingers. We consider Rafa a winger; he is more of a central player, but the dynamics have been good and he has played well on the right flank. Plans for Lukebakio? You will not be satisfied with the answer, but they are the same plans I have for the others. If you ask me what plans I have for Durán, it is to make him help Benfica, and for Lukebakio it is no different.

Physical and mental management

It is a packed schedule with four away matches and always thinking about the next one; there is no hiding it. We had an unusual August with the Europa League matches. Because of our superiority, we managed to rotate. Playing every three days, we will always have a day to make the most of. That is why it is important to have squad depth to manage that without losing quality. Comfort and knowing you are always going to play is not positive, even with players competing. It is a headache I want to have. Even the issue of egos, we have to manage it in the best way, always in Benfica’s best interest. We will need everyone until the end.

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