Fredy backs Benfica replacement: He can handle the pressure | OneFootball

Fredy, player for the Turkish club Çorum, believes that João Tralhão will be up to the challenge of leading Benfica against Real Madrid in the second leg of the playoff for a spot in the Champions League round of 16. The former Angolan international expresses confidence in the assistant coach, even in the demanding atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabéu.

“The coach will be able to convey the calmness the team needs and the positivity the players require to get through the knockout round. Benfica has very experienced players who will certainly help him in this mission as well,” said the 35-year-old player, who crossed paths with João Tralhão at Antalyaspor, where the Portuguese coach was part of Nuri Şahin’s technical staff.

Even so, the midfielder acknowledges that the absence of José Mourinho on the bench makes a difference: “It won’t be the same as with coach Mourinho, he’s been used to these kinds of games for years and years. For him, it would just be another important match. João Tralhão will know how to handle the pressure well, thanks to the calmness that defines him and the strong leadership style he has,” he said.

Fredy even believes that the match could be a decisive moment for the assistant coach’s future. “He has the ability to be a head coach. In three or four years, we’ll see him in that position. This game against Real Madrid could be very important for João to see if he’s ready for it.”

Regarding the period when they worked together in Turkey, the midfielder has only praise for the Portuguese coach: “I was a teammate of Nuri Sahin and then he became my coach. He was a very young and inexperienced coach when he took over the team. João Tralhão brought him stability, thanks to all the experience he already had. We’re talking about a spectacular person, with a huge heart. We got along very well right away. In fact, all the players immediately gave very positive feedback about João Tralhão. But I must emphasize that he lent Nuri Sahin all the experience he already had. The connection between the two worked so well that Nuri ended up taking him to Borussia Dortmund,” he concluded.

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