Prestianni, Echeverri, Palhinha: Marco Silva after Benfica v 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, sitting just two points behind Porto, coach Marco Silva analyzed the match in the press conference.

Difficult games are part of the journey

"A difficult game. It became even more so when we went behind, but a fully deserved win. Difficult until the end, hard-earned, as it often has to be. We’ve said at times that we wouldn’t always 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 too. From the 80th minute onwards, I could clearly see how the fans felt that we were trying everything, even from the bench. The way they drove the team forward and made things more difficult for our opponent was crucial. And then, the total effort from the players. 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 went to our goal they scored. At a moment that, and it’s the worst thing that can happen to us, came after a good reaction from us. What we do, or how we decide, after winning the ball is crucial. And we won it and lost it again very quickly, and it became a quick attack by our opponent, with good decision-making and a good goal by them. But clearly, in those moments we have to do better. First, decide better and then defend that situation better, or defend our box better. But credit also has to go to Gil in that moment. As for the game overall, our pressing timings were not the best. I also felt the team was a bit heavy, and they were not the best. We knew that Gil Vicente put a lot of players 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 press, and at times they caused us, not difficulties exactly, not that they created chances or got into our box often, but they managed to calm the game down. Above all, they managed to calm 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 percentage of possession we had, which was very high, but in some moments when we wanted to inject intensity, they managed to calm the game down. And that’s how they were able to do it while in front. But it’s worth highlighting our ability, while trailing, to turn the result around the way we did. Once again we created more than enough chances to be winning before those final minutes, but this is also one of those wins that has to taste good too, because it won’t always be in such a clear-cut way."

Was Palhinha on the bench part of managing him for the Clássico?

"No, I made one change and, honestly, maybe I should have made more. Because I felt the team was a bit heavy. It was, and this goes for both teams, really hot. 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, maybe I should have made even more so we could be 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, which is Aursnes, who I knew was fit and who has been doing his job very well. And possibly I should have done more. But you could feel it. What is certain is that the players who came off the bench gave a good response, 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 by 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, presumably not being called up, will be important for us to have. We’ll have good time to work and get him to his best level. But I liked him a lot. In a decisive moment of the game, at a moment when he has to come on and play in a position where he has to be decisive, he has to take responsibility. And I liked that, the way he took responsibility, the way he wasn’t afraid to come looking for the ball, the way in many one-twos and short moments he managed to do it on the edge of the box. And I’m very pleased. During the hydration break, I spoke with him and João (Palhinha) about what the next step would be for us, bringing on John (Durán). We took advantage of that moment, we had already prepared it, but we used that moment to give him instructions. We were going to be left with only two midfielders and he would have to be the second midfielder alongside João. And even in that moment he stepped up, and did it 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 between the lines will give us very good things. 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 is performing best, and it’s easy for you to say after that great goal, but he is in 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, the start of the season, show us that it’s on the left. He was absolutely 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 game, we won 3-1. I loved the crowd’s reaction in the last ten minutes, how they pushed the team. I loved the reaction of my players, it was not a brilliant game. That’s what leaves me satisfied. As for the rest, I’m not going to make any analysis, that’s not for me to do. If you noticed all those different things, then you analyze them."

Victory before the Clássico

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

"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.