Secret behind Richard Ríos' awakening at Benfica revealed | OneFootball

Richard Ríos is becoming increasingly adapted to Benfica. The performance of the Colombian international, in the draw against Sporting, left the Benfica fans dreaming and hoping that the number 20 will finally consolidate his consistency on the field. However, the secret behind this midfielder’s ‘awakening’ has been revealed: José Mourinho.

According to the newspaper Record, in its Sunday edition on December 7, the midfielder feels more adapted and much more confident in his game — all thanks to the Special One. The same source explains that the coach from Setúbal, aware of the player’s qualities, has been paying special attention to Richard Ríos.

As reported by the sports daily, one of the secrets lies in the fact that José Mourinho told the Colombian that he should not expose his weaknesses, insisting that he should simplify his game, making it more fluid. In addition, the Special One has reportedly held some individual sessions to correct Ríos’ tactical mistakes.

The truth is that, in the derby against the Lions, the Colombian’s improvement under José Mourinho’s command was quite evident. During the second half, the midfielder created a great opportunity in the 74th minute, when he placed the ball in the heart of the area. Later, in the 81st minute, he came very close to scoring his second goal wearing Benfica’s Sacred Mantle.

However, it’s not just the attention and individual training sessions that are behind this evolution. Rest has been important for the midfielder, who has already played more than 5,000 minutes since the start of 2025, combining matches for Palmeiras. In 2025/26, Richard Ríos — valued at 22 million euros — has recorded one goal and one assist in 24 official matches for Benfica.

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