José Calado has high hopes for Benfica player: he gives his all | OneFootball

Leandro Barreiro is expected to return to the starting eleven for Benfica in the decisive home clash against St. Gallen, and Marco Silva’s choice has José Calado’s approval. The former Benfica midfielder believes the Luxembourg international could be an important piece.

Speaking to CMTV, the former footballer highlighted Barreiro’s ability to get into goalscoring positions despite playing in midfield: "Leandro Barreiro is a player who, despite playing in midfield, often gets into the opposition box and has an eye for goal. Let’s not forget that last season he was named Benfica’s best player on the pitch several times."

José Calado acknowledges that Benfica’s number 18 does not particularly stand out for his technical quality, but believes he makes up for that with his dedication and commitment on the pitch: "Although he is not especially gifted technically, physically he gives a lot to the team, covers a large area of the pitch, gives everything he has and, above all, sacrifices himself for the team. He is a team player".

The former Portugal international also believes Barreiro’s experience could prove decisive: "On top of that, his return is very important, because he is an experienced player, he knows what it means to play at the Estádio da Luz and he is one of those players every coach likes to have, because he never shirks a battle. When needed, he rolls up his sleeves and helps the team bring its quality onto the pitch. These players are always very important in a squad, and any coach likes to have this type of player available, whether as a starter or coming off the bench".

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