João Gobern on Richard Ríos and Benfica’s transfer market | OneFootball

João Gobern believes in qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League and is against "financial madness" in the winter transfer market. In this Glorioso 1904 Exclusive, the Portuguese journalist and well-known Benfica supporter also offers high praise for Richard Ríos and says he believes in the midfielder’s qualities.

Regarding the possible qualification for the Champions League play-off, João Gobern began by saying: "Of the four games we lost in the Champions League, the Qarabag defeat was well-deserved and is a lesson. If there were divine justice, we would have drawn in London. In Newcastle, we were completely outplayed. And against Bayer Leverkusen, it was a match we should have won. Amsterdam was absolutely fair, and now, against Napoli, it was absolutely categorical."

"Some people don’t value the fact that we played against the Italian champions. And more than just the Italian champions, against the club that is currently first in Italy. It’s not Qarabag, nor Club Brugge, nor Malmo, it’s none of those. If Benfica is competent, and with the defensive improvements we’ve shown when there aren’t mental lapses like there were against Sporting, we can win in Turin. And, for heaven’s sake, the last match against Real Madrid at home, anything can happen," João Gobern added, exclusively to Glorioso 1904.

In the match against Napoli, Richard Ríos was a standout figure and João Gobern offers praise: "I’m not exactly a fanatic of the Brasileirão, but I had already seen Ríos do things at Palmeiras that I think he can still do at Benfica. He’s made an absolutely surprising leap in the last two games. I think the real Ríos is the one who, for example, scores long-distance goals. The man has impressive stamina. But above all, he may be, at this moment, among all Benfica players, the one who is just as good at destroying as he is at building. I hope he can still climb a few more steps in what he’s been showing."

To conclude, João Gobern assessed a possible move in the January market: "Benfica should not make financial madness, regardless of what lies ahead. Secondly, it’s clear there are gaps in the squad. We’re not going to win every game without having another type of winger, for example. And I still think there’s a lack of a playmaker. From what I’ve heard and seen from Benfica’s coach, he is absolutely willing to keep betting on the Seixal academy. 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.