Expert: Marco Silva's biggest challenge is off the pitch, Benfica fans | OneFootball

At his presentation, Marco Silva called for unity among Benfica fans around the team throughout the 2026/2027 season, a factor that will be decisive in winning titles this season. Nélson Feiteirona says this will be the biggest obstacle for the new coach.

"Marco Silva is Benfica’s new coach and faces a huge challenge (among many others) in particular: restoring Benfica fans’ pride after yet another season without winning the league title, the main objective of the Club of Light", he said in an opinion piece for the newspaper 'A Bola'.

The journalist has no doubt that the Benfica fanbase will have to be patient. "For Benfica to become competitive again and a title contender, it will be essential for the fans to show patience and consistent support for Marco Silva’s team. Although it is true that the team must be the first to win over its supporters on the pitch, it is also undeniable that the atmosphere in the stands can directly influence the team’s overall performance", it reads.

Nélson Feiteirona warns that a lack of harmony could be very negative. "Alongside Rui Costa, Benfica’s president, Marco Silva reinforced the idea of unity, reminding everyone that Benfica fans are stronger when they move forward together. This principle applies not only to football, but to any organization seeking to achieve sustained results. High standards and criticism are part of Benfica’s identity, but they must come at the right time and in a constructive way. Otherwise, they may have the opposite effect from what was intended and weaken the team even further", he argued.

In his conclusion, the journalist admits that Marco Silva could triumph off the pitch first. "More than immediate victories, Marco Silva’s greatest achievement may begin off the pitch: winning the respect and trust of the fans at the Estádio da Luz. Only with that solid foundation will it be possible to build a winning and consistent Benfica in the long term", he concluded.

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