Ivanovic frustrated at Benfica: Hard to stay sharp without minutes | OneFootball

Having a season below expectations, Franjo Ivanovic is dissatisfied with the few opportunities. However, those who know him guarantee that the Croatian striker is determined to turn things around and establish himself as a valid option. The number 9, who comes off the bench most often (22 in 34 matches), has not started since December 17, in the visit to Farense (2-0), where he scored a goal.

"He feels, and knows, that he can help the team much more. He showed that in the classic against Porto. But to help and be in good shape, he needs to play. Without minutes, it’s hard to maintain rhythm. Even so, he doesn’t give up: he’s a fighter, works hard, and wants to prove to Mourinho that he deserves a much better status," emphasized Ivica Medo, journalist for 'Gol.hr', the sports site belonging to Nova TV.

Ivica Medo has followed Ivanovic’s career since the player was a child. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to state: "Of course he’s not satisfied. No player is satisfied when they don’t play or have few minutes. He expected much more, which is natural: he had an excellent season in Belgium, was the best player for Union Saint-Gilloise and in the Belgian league, became a Croatian international, and scored his first goals for Croatia."

Even though any player needs time to adapt, Ivanovic already feels "comfortable in Lisbon". Still, the journalist admitted he was surprised: "I expected Franjo to quickly become one of the important players at Benfica. I know very well the player he is, I’ve followed him for many years, since he was a child. He is a striker, but he is very versatile. He plays well with both feet, is fast, and has excellent technique. I even think the position that suits him best is as a number 10, as a second striker."

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