José Mourinho considers unused player for Ajax v Benfica | OneFootball

José Mourinho considers unused player for Ajax v Benfica | OneFootball

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·25 November 2025

José Mourinho considers unused player for Ajax v Benfica

Article image:José Mourinho considers unused player for Ajax v Benfica

José Mourinho may give Manu Silva his first minutes of the season in the clash against Ajax, counting for the fifth round of the Champions League. Benfica recently traveled to Amsterdam, and the Portuguese midfielder is part of the squad.

The revelation was made by the Eagles' coach. Manu Silva is not yet physically ready to play 90 minutes – which means he should start the match on the bench – but he may come on if necessary, explained José Mourinho.


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"Manu doesn't have 90 minutes in him. He won't start the game. The minutes he might get and the help he can provide have limitations. He's not here for sightseeing or to just sit on the bench clapping. He's here because he can play. If we need him, Manu will play," José Mourinho began by explaining about the midfielder, who has yet to play any minutes this season.

José Mourinho also added the following: "He has some limitations regarding 'minutes' and the intensity of the game, the changes of pace. He has some problems, but he can play. The injury recovery is complete. He’s working well. We need him to bring more balance to the squad. He’s welcome. If he’s here, it’s because he can help us."

It’s worth remembering that Manu Silva’s adventure at Benfica has been complicated. After moving from Guimarães to Luz in the winter transfer window, the Portuguese midfielder suffered a serious injury in his first matches for the Eagles, and has been out of competition, not playing for more than nine months.

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

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