José Mourinho plans major shake-up at Benfica for the Portuguese Cup | OneFootball

José Mourinho is considering a change in Benfica’s central defenders for the Eagles’ next match, on Friday, January 17, against Chaves. The Benfica coach is thinking about introducing Tomás Araújo into the team’s defensive axis for the Portuguese Cup match.

Nicolas Otamendi’s participation in the Argentine National Team’s matches has opened the door for Tomás Araújo. The Benfica captain returns with many minutes (and kilometers) in his legs, and with the Champions League match against Newcastle already coming up next Tuesday, it becomes imperative to manage the squad.

who was not used in the National Team. He thus returns to the position where he stood out at Benfica last season, often partnering with Otamendi.

But the defender’s versatility, as well as Alexander Bah’s injury, made him seen as a solution for Benfica’s full-back positions. That’s where he ended up playing many times last season, with the lack of routine in those movements being one of the important factors that led to his pubalgia, which forced him to miss the Club World Cup.

This season, he started with a dual role under Bruno Lage, splitting his time between center-back and right-back. Under José Mourinho, he hasn’t started yet, but he has come on both in the center of defense and to cover the left side. The 23-year-old is expected to return tomorrow to the position where he is happiest on the pitch.

Check out here Tomás Araújo’s message to Benfica fans:

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