Mourinho’s strong words for Richard Ríos at Moreirense–Benfica, here’s why | OneFootball

Benfica’s thrashing in Moreira de Cónegos had moments of some ‘tension’ on the red bench. Despite the overwhelming scoreline, José Mourinho did not hesitate to vehemently correct his players during the match. Richard Ríos was one of the main targets of the experienced Setúbal-born coach’s momentary dissatisfaction.

Colombian midfielder got an earful

The reason for the criticism was some losses of possession in areas considered off-limits for building up play. The Eagles’ coach felt that these mistakes exposed the team to dangerous transitions from the opponent, something he wanted to avoid at all costs. The highest level of demand remained unchanged even with the favorable scoreline.

The midfielder was not the only one to hear the loud instructions coming from the technical area. Rodrigo Rego, the young midfielder who came on at halftime to replace the injured Leandro Barreiro, also received direct warnings. The Portuguese skipper wanted to maintain absolute tactical discipline and high competitive focus until the end.

These ‘ear-pullings’ come, interestingly, during the best spell the midfielder has had since arriving at Luz. The number 20 put in a stellar performance against Sporting and shone brightly against Napoli. In that European clash, the player scored a goal and provided an assist, being a key figure in the victory.

This season, Richard Ríos has played in 31 official matches across various competitions. The Colombian international has accumulated 2,128 minutes of playing time, having scored two goals and provided two assists. These numbers confirm the growing importance of the South American player in the team managed by José Mourinho.

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