Marco Silva on new captain, empty Luz and Trubin before Benfica v Viseu | OneFootball

was at the press conference previewing Benfica’s game this Sunday against Académico de Viseu, at the Estádio da Luz, in the first round of Liga Portugal, after beating Hearts in midweek. Check out everything the Benfica coach said ahead of the clash.

Absence of fans for the game

“It is obvious that one of the great strengths, if not the greatest, of a club like Benfica is its fan base. When that is taken away from us, the strength is different. Bruno was honest, and we have to be as well. Something very important to us as a club has been taken away. It is not pleasant. My opinion actually goes in the opposite direction. If we think these decisions are the way to solve problems, and this is not criticism... I am not the right person to speak about this. But taking 65,000 people out of a stadium... If we think that is how problems are solved, we are mistaken. We have very good examples across Europe of how to deal with things that are not good. And it is not by not allowing fans into the stadium. It simply takes fans away from football and, for anyone who understands it, playing football only makes sense if there are fans. We will do everything to win the game, Académico will also try to get a good result. I think that, after more than 30 years away from the top flight, they wanted to have their fans there. They took that away from Benfica, from Académico, from the spectacle, and they took away the reason why we are here. A football match without fans is not a normal game and solutions should be found. But not like this.”

Will Samuel Soares start?

“As for the starting spot, I will not say, not only in goal but in the other positions as well. The transfer market has no influence whatsoever on my decisions. I said that about António a few weeks ago. I do not make decisions thinking about the market. The players who will be in the squad are Benfica players, they have been working fully involved, and a big challenge is coming for a club like Benfica, which has not been champions for three years. Of course the market is open and there are always rumours, but it is up to me to keep all the players fully focused on our objectives. We have already played three official matches, we started earlier in less than ideal circumstances for us, but at this point we already have that experience behind us. The market will not be playing tomorrow, it will not be there. Unfortunately, Benfica’s greatest strength, the fans, will not be there either, because it was taken away from us, and it seems to me this is all being taken too lightly.”

Possibility of playing with two strikers

“We have four, and Anísio has also been with us. In the final stage of last season he joined the first-team squad, and since the start of pre-season he has also been with us. He is very young, he needs to play and he will have his space, including playing for the B team. That will be his development space at many moments. We will see what the market brings until the end of August, beginning of September. There is the possibility of playing with two strikers. It will not be the starting point, but it could happen. Also because of Pavlidis’ characteristics, as he can always play in a slightly deeper line... It is something we have in mind, but we will need more time to work on it. We are trying to cement our way of playing, with players arriving late already, a new coaching staff... It could happen naturally, with Pavlidis in a different position and then a striker more in the number 9 role.”

Are FC Porto favourites?

“I said it at my presentation, and it is good that you also mentioned Sp. Braga. I said we would have three very competent opponents, clearly the three usual title contenders, and then Sp. Braga. I understand the question, the cliché - which may make some sense - but I am not going down that road. Naturally, we have to do our job, which is to stay focused on ourselves and on how we want to play.”

Trubin’s situation

“As for Trubin, I do not see any discomfort. He comes in every day to train seriously. He has a very particular personality, but I have not seen any difference between after last Thursday’s game and now. Everyone likes to play, I would also like to start every game wearing the Benfica shirt if I played. But I do not see any discomfort. When I have spoken with him, no discomfort has ever come up. He knows we are subject to praise, criticism, support... We are here because of the fans. It is our profession, we love what we do, but without the fans it is not worth it. We play to make them proud. And when something less good happens, we have to be prepared for somewhat exaggerated reactions at times. And we need to have the necessary balance to cope with that. I will always be here to support the players.”

Order of the captains

“Good question. I was going to announce it, so I will answer your question. The group of captains is defined. Aursnes, Tomás Araújo, Samuel Soares, Lenglet, Leandro Barreiro, in that order. As for the first question: Manu has a coach’s background as a centre-back, there is no point hiding it. It is not a new position for him, it is a position he is capable of playing. One thing is being able to do it, another is having training routines in that role. Within the possible use of him, we have been working with that. And yes, he has trained as a centre-back and in the last game it was Manu. I think that answers the question.”

Samuel Soares ahead of Trubin

“I understand the question, but I am not going to explain why I pick A, B, C or D. If I made that decision on Thursday, then that was the decision. We will see what I do tomorrow. I am not going to announce to journalists why I make these decisions.”

Benfica’s football

“It has to be one of our characteristics. In the first official game we did not manage it, but we took steps forward in the last two matches. We improved and that was important. We improved in defensive transition and, for us to play in the attacking half, we have to do that. Of course counter-attacks can happen and we can be caught in a way where we are not so well positioned... But that gives us cohesion, the ability to win the ball in higher areas... It is a goal. And then, to be solid. It is important to have a style of football Benfica identifies with. That is our idea. But there are no champions, titles or consistent seasons if we do not keep clean sheets. Balance always has to be part of our game so that we are not unbalanced. One thing is having a dominant mentality, another is being a fragile team at certain moments. But we want balance at all times. The ability to react, to be aggressive, and then, in deeper defensive areas, to have the tactical ability not to concede and not to let the opponent create chances.”

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