António Silva poised, Mourinho could hold key for Porto v Benfica | OneFootball

José Mourinho may have two solutions in sight for the game against Porto. According to reports, the Benfica coach, faced with several absences in the defensive axis, might choose to use Gonçalo Oliveira or adapt Manu Silva. However, until the match, the Special One might change his mind.

According to the newspaper O Jogo, following the defeat against Braga, the 62-year-old coach was left without captain Nicolás Otamendi, who will miss the visit to Dragão after receiving a red card. In this scenario, Mourinho is looking for a solution to pair with Tomás Araújo.

Although António Silva's recovery, as reported by the press, is progressing as expected, a last-minute setback could require other plans. In this regard, the Special One is considering the possibility of betting on Gonçalo Oliveira, a 19-year-old defender who has been making an impression in the secondary squad.

On the other hand, the same source also suggests the possibility of the Benfica coach advancing with the adaptation of Manu Silva. Although his original position is defensive midfielder, the truth is that the young Portuguese has some experience as a central defender, a role he played at Vitória de Guimarães.

This season, while playing for Benfica, Manu Silva — valued at 10 million euros — has played in seven matches: four in Liga Portugal Betclic, one in the Champions League, one in the Portuguese Cup, and one in the League Cup. The former Vitória de Guimarães player has accumulated 240 minutes of play.

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