Marco Silva on Prestianni, Echeverri, Palhinha after Benfica-Gil Vicente | OneFootball

After the hard-fought win over Gil Vicente (3-1) at the Estádio da Luz, where they secured another victory in the Liga Portugal Betclic with Benfica, now sitting just two points behind Porto, coach Marco Silva analyzed the match in the press conference.

Difficult matches are part of the journey

"A difficult game. It became even more so when we fell behind on the scoreboard, but a thoroughly deserved win. Tough, right until the end, hard-earned, as it often has to be. We've said at times that we weren’t always going to be leading the scoreline; we want to, but today is a good example of that. But above all, I’m very pleased with the belief not only of the players, but of the stadium as well. I clearly felt, from the 80th minute onwards, how the fans sensed that we were trying everything, even from the bench. The way they drove the team forward and created more difficulties for our opponent was crucial. And then, the players’ total effort. That’s how it has to be. There are moments when it won’t be as clear-cut, starting in front, scoring early, regardless of the fact that we had one or two good moments to score before Gil did."

Gil Vicente's qualities and Benfica's difficulties

"The first time they got to our goal, they scored. At a moment which, and this is the worst thing that can happen to us, came after a good reaction from us. The moment, or the decision-making after we win the ball, is crucial. And we won it and lost it again very quickly, and it became a quick attack from our opponent, with good decision-making and a good goal by them. But clearly, in those moments we have to do better. First, make a better decision, and then defend that moment better, or defend our box better. But credit also has to go to Gil in that situation. As for the match overall, our pressing timing wasn’t the best. I also felt the team was a bit heavy, but it wasn’t the best. We know Gil Vicente put a lot of men into the first phase of build-up and, many times, Pavlidis and Prestianni were a little too wide, they didn’t wait for the right moments for us to jump into the press and, at times, they caused us—not exactly problems, not that they created chances or got into our area often—but they managed to slow the game down. Above all, they managed to slow the game down. It’s a team that knows what it’s doing with the ball and we allowed that. They slowed things down at times, regardless of the very high possession percentage we had, but when we wanted to inject intensity, they were able to calm the game. And that’s how they were able to manage things while in front. But we must highlight our ability, while trailing, to turn the result around the way we did. Once again we created more than enough chances to be ahead before those final minutes, but this is also one of those wins you have to know how to appreciate, because it won’t always be as clear-cut."

Was Palhinha on the bench because of squad management ahead of the clássico?

"No, I made one change and, honestly, maybe I should have made more. Because I felt the team was a little heavy. It was, and this goes for both teams, very hot indeed. We were the ones who decided to schedule the Moreirense game when we did, so there’s no point complaining. It’s up to me to manage it. I made one change, and maybe I should have made even more so we could have been a bit fresher. You never know how the team is going to react. I chose to make just one, involving a player who has also been playing a lot, Aursnes, whom I knew was in condition and who has been doing his job very well. And possibly I should have done more. But it showed. What is certain is that the players who came off the bench gave a good response, they helped the team, and that’s important. João, with his ability, pushed the team forward, started winning duels, and we also needed him fresh, and when he came on he was fresh. Aursnes is a bit more cerebral."

Impactful debut from Echeverri

"It was important. I honestly liked it, I was very pleased. He needs more time with us. I think the international break will be very important for him because, fortunately or unfortunately, we’ll be left with few players and he, most likely not being called up, will be important for us to have. We’ll have a good amount of time to work and get him to his best level. But I really liked it. In a decisive moment of the game, in a moment when he has to come on and play in a position where he has to be decisive, where he has to take responsibility. And I liked that—the way he took responsibility, the way he wasn’t afraid to ask for the ball, the way in many one-twos and short combinations he managed to do it around the edge of the box. And I like that a lot. During the hydration break, I spoke with him and João (Palhinha) about what our next step would be, bringing on John (Durán). We took advantage of that moment—we had already prepared it—but we used it to give him instructions. We were only going to have two midfielders left and he would have to be the second midfielder alongside João. And even in that moment he stepped up and did well. I really liked it. It was only a short time, but I really liked it. He’s a very creative player, a player who will give us very good things between the lines. And at that moment we needed a player with Cláudio’s creativity."

Prestianni on fire

"Prestianni is in extraordinary form. Then we can analyze where he’s performing best, and it’s easy for you to say after that brilliant goal, but he’s at a moment where he can help us inside, he can help us on the left, he can help us on the right flank. The numbers, and the start of the season, show us that it’s on the left. He was extremely fatigued—if you analyze his game and his reactions, he was one of the players where it was clearly noticeable—and I managed him. He only played 60 minutes last Wednesday, but he gave everything, fought until the end. And he has been brilliant."

"Strange things during the game"

"I’ll leave that for you to analyze. We won a difficult match, we won 3-1. I loved the crowd’s reaction in the last ten minutes, how they drove the team on. I loved the reaction of my players, it wasn’t a brilliant game. That’s what leaves me satisfied. As for the rest, I’m not going to make any analysis, that’s not my job. If you noticed all those different things, then you should analyze them."

Victory before the Clássico

"It was crucial. I told my players we were going into a nine-point week and for us it was crucial to get it done. Three points at a time, we had to do it, and we managed it in many different ways, on two very difficult grounds. The condition of the pitch, which I complained about a little, maybe I criticized too much, but this is a defense not of us, Benfica, or our players—I think it’s a defense of Portuguese football. For us, it was crucial to complete this nine-point week. That was the key thing for us. Before that, we have a Europa League match."

Favorite memory as Benfica coach

"Normally I don’t remember, I keep forgetting, I don’t know if it’s age, I forget very quickly the things that happen. The best memory is tonight’s, because we won the game and because that was the most important thing."

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