Goal conceded, Sudakov, Palhinha bow: Marco Silva on Benfica v Estoril | OneFootball

After the narrow win over Estoril (2-1) at the Estádio da Luz, where he secured his second victory in the Liga Portugal Betclic with Benfica by matchday four (the Eagles have one game in hand), coach Marco Silva analyzed the match in a press conference. See everything the Benfica coach had to say.

Benfica comfortable until the goal conceded

"Benfica dominated the entire game. We conceded a goal near the 80th minute and that made Estoril believe. Estoril had four shots in total, two on target. We’ve been winning games and improving, but this has happened many times. With one shot or one situation, they end up scoring. For 75/80 minutes we had total control against a team playing in the last 30 meters, respecting our quality. I understand that they haven’t had enough players in the defensive line to do that at other times, but today they used a back five and sometimes even six, with full width to break up our movements. We took control of the game. We created enough chances to score more. At 2-0 the game was completely under control. The moment Estoril scored, they gained some encouragement, but the team managed to organize itself and control things until the end. Three important points, and it was important to do that at home in front of our fans."

Enzo’s injury and Palhinha’s debut

"It was a heavy challenge on Enzo — which was actually his — and he was left in a lot of discomfort. João’s possible debut was brought forward. We weren’t expecting it to be so soon, but he was in the squad in case he was needed. He is still understanding the dynamics and, regardless of knowing me, he will need time, especially on the ball. Without the ball he gave what he can give, which is something different in profile compared to other players. Enzo had started well and was doing well, and João continued that with his ability to react and his aggressiveness. On the ball he will improve and adapt to what we want and, above all, to his teammates. It will take time, but today it already happened with more minutes than expected. It was good for him to feel the stadium, what people expect from him, and it is always good for a player to feel that. Enzo? I haven’t spoken to the medical department, but it doesn’t seem serious to me."

Arrival of El Karouani

What will El Karouani bring to the team? "The player is not official yet, you can ask me that again in a few days."

Sudakov’s poor output, even while remaining a starter

"Sudakov remains a starter because I, as the coach, decide it that way. I understand the analysis, but I don’t look only at a player’s behavior and performances in that position from that point of view. A few days ago I said it’s a position that needs numbers, no doubt. It’s important to have impact. That hasn’t been happening. Today he ended up hitting the crossbar, he hasn’t had much luck. But it’s not just about that. He starts because I decide it, and if I’ve decided that, it’s because he has given me signs that he can be the starter. As for the players, I’ve already said that Rafa can be a player in the inside channel, more of a number 10 as well. We can use that or, as we have already done, try it with Prestianni and Gonçalo. We are looking for different solutions if I feel that way. The players do not all have to be the same. Up to now, we have decided on Sudakov."

Palhinha as the coach’s extension on the pitch

"As for the last question, I’m not going to comment. It was a positive debut, but he still knows little about his teammates. He understood what was needed in the different moments of the game and adapted well. At first there were some hesitations, but as the game went on that was no longer visible. It was a positive performance, but the most important thing is the collective. It was definitely not exuberant, but it was a positive display from our team. When we conceded the goal there was some instability, but they were three more important points."

The team’s anxiety after Estoril’s goal and the frenzy around Palhinha

"No, I wasn’t worried. And I think it’s important to talk about that. Just because we concede a goal doesn’t mean there has to be tremendous anxiety among the players. We had the game under control and that’s no reason to change anything. We conceded, but the result was still positive for us. I didn’t feel the team dropping back, I felt Estoril believing a little more. It’s important for us to understand that if something happens that makes us less comfortable, that is the moment to react and be more of a team. That atmosphere was created, but the reaction of the fans must be highlighted, because it was important. They wanted to see João and they appreciate the player, and that is very important for them, to feel that affection. They will always be better and always have more confidence. For me, what stands out much more is the reaction of the stadium at the moment Estoril scored. And that is what I take from the game and from the attitude of our supporters."

Samuel Dahl’s development

"He is an intelligent player and he has been improving, not only physically but also in terms of what we want him to give the team. Because of the way Bah pushes forward on the opposite flank and then, in the first phase of build-up, to be our third man arriving in that channel. And in the first half I felt the key was there. Estoril, as I said, almost man-marked Leandro [Barreiro] and made a line of six, and we managed more often with that third man. Whenever we managed to break past the wide midfielder, Dahl was able to create superiority and he had a positive game. He came close to scoring, had good situations. Another positive game, he is understanding better and better what we want and then, naturally, with wingers who can draw players away, him coming from deeper ends up creating the superiority we want."

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