João Gabriel on Prestianni: Benfica’s reaction, fires back | OneFootball

There have been various reactions to the Gianluca Prestianni case, which erupted during the first leg of the Champions League match against Real Madrid. Recently, it was João Gabriel's turn, a former trusted associate of Luís Filipe Vieira, to comment on the case, and according to him, Benfica's response to the issue fell short of expectations.

"It ends abruptly, without prior notice, forcing us to react. Faced with an unprecedented reputational crisis that the episode between Prestianni and Vinícius brought, time ceased to be just a detail. It became the critical factor", he began writing in the opinion piece published in the Record newspaper.

"Those who hesitate, chase after it. Benfica hesitated. The reaction was slow, fragmented, and sporadic. There was no clear, immediate, and unequivocal message. In this void, the narrative was taken over by others, dispersed, and radicalized (including Luisão) without the club having assumed its leadership", pointed out João Gabriel, who, like Luisão, criticized the Eagles' stance.

"The mistake was not just in timing. It was also in format and voice. In crises of this nature, the public seeks a spokesperson with authority. They look for someone who represents the institution, credible and who conveys security. No one met these conditions better than the club's President", he added.

"None of this would have resolved the crisis. But it would have minimized the damage, defended the institution, the coach, the player, and above all, placed Benfica in command of the narrative. Crises are not just moments of risk. They are moments of trial. They test structures, expose flaws, and reveal whether there is strategic preparation or improvisation", concluded João Gabriel.

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