Hugo do Carmo urges Rui Costa to reveal who’ll manage Benfica in 2026/27 | OneFootball

The draw in the derby against Porto left deep marks on the title race and, in Hugo do Carmo’s opinion, has practically closed the championship accounts for Benfica. The journalist argues that the club should already start...with Arouca, looking ahead to the next 2026/2027 season.

"Without giving up the fight for access to the Champions League, I believe Benfica must already start preparing for the next season, and that begins in… Arouca, on Saturday. I’ve already written this in this space and I insist: Rui Costa must clarify whether José Mourinho will stay at Luz or not. The coach has already publicly stated his desire to renew, so only the president’s statement is missing. As soon as possible," he wrote in his opinion column "Livre sem barreira" in the newspaper ‘A Bola’.

The author believes that the uncertainty regarding the future coach and the recent changes in the team’s management have ultimately harmed the club’s stability over the past two seasons, also pointing to failures in the planning led by Rui Costa. "This is in reference to these last two seasons for Benfica, in which the lack of planning did not allow them to win the national championship title, nor to win the Portuguese Cup. With Roger Schmidt starting last season and soon after being replaced by Bruno Lage, who also ended up being dismissed in similar circumstances this season, Benfica lost ground that ultimately proved irrecoverable against their rivals," he analyzed.

It is worth remembering Rui Calafate. "The Setúbal native is one of the best coaches ever but the past belongs in the museum. Benfica is obliged to turn the situation around and I still have doubts whether Mourinho is the right man for a new cycle", he said.

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