João Gobern: Benfica’s transfer gaps, Richard Ríos discussed | OneFootball

João Gobern believes in qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League and is against "financial madness" in the winter transfer market. Our newspaper spoke with the Portuguese journalist, in this Glorioso 1904 Exclusive, about the topics that have marked Benfica’s current affairs in recent days.

Regarding qualification for the Champions League play-off, João Gobern began by saying: "I believe. I think that of the four games we lost in the Champions League, the Qarabag match was a well-deserved loss and a lesson. Against Chelsea, I think if there were divine justice, we would have drawn in London. In Newcastle, we were completely outplayed. And with Bayer Leverkusen, that was really what I call bad luck, because it was a game we should have won. Amsterdam was totally fair, and now, with Napoli, it was absolutely categorical."

"I think some people don’t appreciate the fact that we played against the Italian champion. And more than just the Italian champion, against the club that is currently first in Italy... It’s not Qarabag, nor Club Brugge, nor Malmo, none of those. I think these two consecutive victories, even from a morale-boosting point of view, if Benfica is competent, and with the improvements shown in defense when there aren’t mental lapses like there were against Sporting, I think we can win in Turin. And for heaven’s sake, the last game, on top of that, a big champions’ match against Real Madrid at home, I think anything can happen," João Gobern added, exclusively to Glorioso 1904.

In that game against Napoli, Richard Ríos was a standout figure. The Portuguese journalist also spoke about the Colombian: "I think Richard Rios was absolutely spot-on yesterday when he said ‘yes, I think I’m playing better, but I still have a lot to show and to reach my true level’. I’m not exactly a fanatic of the Brasileirão, but I had already seen Rios do things at Palmeiras that I think he can still do at Benfica. So, he’s already made a leap that’s absolutely—not unexpected, but if you like, surprising—in the last two games. Now, I think the real Rios is the one who, for example, scores long-range goals... The man has impressive stamina, that’s one of those things you can’t question. But above all, he may be, at this moment, one of the Benfica players, in the whole squad, who is as good at breaking up play as he is at building it. So, I hope he can still climb a few more steps in what he’s showing."

To conclude, João Gobern assessed a possible move in the January transfer market: "Very briefly. I think Benfica shouldn’t do anything crazy financially, regardless of what lies ahead. Secondly, it’s clear there are gaps in the squad. No matter how much we try to get around it, we’re not going to win every game without having other types of wingers, for example. And I still think that maybe what’s missing there is a playmaker," João Gobern began to point out.

The Portuguese journalist continued: "So, I’m not even talking about the striker issue, but a playmaker. Especially while Sudakov has to play in positions that aren’t his. That said, I think the January market, considering that it’s usually more expensive than what was planned in advance, and considering what is confirmed as the assets we have from Seixal, there could be a January market, yes, but I think it will have to be surgical. And on top of that, from what I’ve heard and seen from Benfica’s coach, he is absolutely willing to keep betting—not something that happens overnight, but to keep betting—on the Seixal academy. So, I believe there will be surgical signings, but they really have to be surgical. It has to be people who come to make a difference. It can’t be buying just for the sake of buying."

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