Ball – What Roger Schmidt’s training camp said: The pros and cons (Benfica)

More solutions, headaches on the horizon for Roger Schmidt. This is one of the main conclusions after the Eagles’ first two preseason games. Benfica has been strengthened in terms of quality, not quantity, but the arrival of three reinforcements, at the moment, allows the German coach to manage the selection of an eleven with another available. The arrival of Di Maria, Koksu and Jurasek leaves the team with more players capable of making a difference. This increases internal competition. A place in the starting lineup will be more expensive.

After a week’s work away from Portugal, the Eagles returned to Seixal to prepare for their next matches in the Algarve. In England and Switzerland, Schmidt had 34 players, he watched the pulse of the team and now he is preparing for the first decisions. Similar to last season, Benfica is starting to work with the team on the verge of closing in on debutants, a sign that homework has started early.

At this point, for example, in terms of acquisitions, the goalkeeper will be missing to compete with Vlachodimos. And as a result, this is one sector where there are some questions. The Eagles are negotiating Pinto’s access, or else, to the second Greek international. And when that happens, it may even happen that Samuel Soares can be borrowed, leaving Leo Kokubo at number 3 (André Gomes injured).

The defensive sector is closed to entrances, but not exits. With the news of Joao Victor occupying a place among the permanents but to compete with Bah at right-back. Victor played 90 minutes (spread over the two matches) on the right and everything indicated he was Gilberto’s successor. As for Grimaldo’s successor, on the other hand, there don’t seem to be any major doubts: Jurasek has been nominated by the coach… So Ristic has not much commitment left, but the double obligation to prove Schmidt wrong too. And the fight, for now, looks close: Ristic, 90 min, 1 goal; Jurasek, 45 min (arrived later), 1 goal. But this will be one of the biggest challenges for the coach this season, to make the team not feel like an orphan from the style that Grimaldo imposed on Benfica.

Still in defense, the fight that Morato is preparing to take on Antonio Silva… or Otamendi promises to be intense. The captain, for the moment, is absent due to injury, and in this sense it is Morato (one of only 3 players in the starting line-up in both matches) who is going forward to form a duo with Silva. But what about when Otamendi will return? It was just that the Brazilian was one of the better players in defense in both matches. Therefore, there is not much room left for competition from Lucas Verissimo, the central defender who Benfica wants to put in another banner permanently.

In the central area, two games were enough to realize that Kokçu brings class to the sector. At the moment, not as direct an influence as Enzo, but the Turk is a nuclear player. The question would be who would accompany him: Chiquinho was the first to be tested, followed by Florentino. Joao Neves is also an option, but there are three candidates for a vacancy.

Up front, Di Maria’s first 45 minutes had an immediate impact: Orsnes and David Neres – two heavyweights from last season – off the bench. It won’t always be this way, sure, but this is one of the sectors that wins the most competition, also because Schjelderup is starting to make arguments for him to claim more minutes. But between Joao Mario, Neres, Ursense, Rafa and Di Maria, management will revolve around the title, as any of them can play in the three positions to support the striker. And here again, Gonzalo Ramos seems to have no equal rival: 45 minutes goal, against none from Tungsted (90 minutes) and none from Musa (45 minutes).

It’s only been a week with the whole team on board, but Schmidt already has a lot on his mind.

highlighted

Di Maria Already a superstar at 22, when he left Benfica for Real Madrid, he’s back with more football in his boots now at the age of 35. Less speed maybe, but with more experience in every moment of the game. It took 45 minutes to see him: he was influential in each of the three goals the Eagles beat Basel (3-1) and after only four days of work with the team. He returned with joy and this could be seen from afar.

kuksu The investment was high, but Benfica had no doubts about fulfilling Schmidt’s request to bring in the man who would take over the baton, in Enzo’s image. For the presentation, 90 minutes in two games and always as a starter (besides him, there were only two more players). High-end details and fast, first touch, safe gameplay. The big question mark would be: Who does he play alongside?

Rafa – One of the three for whom Roger Schmidt started two matches. Which, given what has been said about the future of the Portuguese language, is of great importance at this time. Schmidt has Rafa and the striker is very motivated to keep going. The result: a goal against Southampton and an assist against Basel.

Morato – Apart from Rafa and Kokjo, he was the only one to play both matches in the starting line-up. With Southampton alongside Lucas Verissimo, Basel accompanied Antonio Silva. And if he had already given good indications against the English, in the match on Swiss soil he was insurmountable, playing with class. Which certainly leaves Roger Schmidt pondering the men’s choice for the starting duo. Remember, Morato was first choice a year ago… before Antonio Silva came along.

for review

childrup – He didn’t go to the European Under-19 Championship at the behest of Roger Schmidt who wanted to see the Norwegian leave on a par with the rest of the competition. They won 90 minutes into the competition, in the second half of both matches, but showed an integrity worth watching closely. You will definitely have more minutes.

rustic – It got off to a good start, with a productive 45 minutes against Southampton, culminating in a goal, as if to show the manager he has to take it into account when deciding who to pick on the left, now that Jurasek has just arrived. He has the fact that he already knows what Schmidt wants from the defenders and knows the team’s procedures very well. So he promises to give the job to Jurasek.

John Victor – With the central sector overcrowded, the solution to staying in the team will be to adapt to the right-back, a sector where he has played some success at Nantes, where he has been on loan for the past six months. There he started as a starter in the match against Southampton, and repeated the position in the second half against Basel. Despite the lack of wing actions, he did and could be Bah’s competitor.

hard life

dead – Integrated into the squad after his loan to Cremonese was terminated, the midfielder is still not part of Roger Schmidt’s future plans: not a single minute was used in matches against Southampton or Basel. Benfica is trying to find a solution to a permanent exit, but he may be loaned out again. In Italy, he played a regular season (35 games, 2 assists) so the market in that country remains attentive. This Monday, news came of his closeness to Genoa. Like him, Paulo Bernardo will be transferred again.

Thiago Dantas – He was one of the leading players in the U-21 national team, after his loan to PAOK he returned to Seixal, but the intense competition for the sector in which he plays leaves him little room to manoeuvre. Schmidt did not give him minutes and the exit was inevitable. The Greeks are still very interested, but there are logos with more money in the race, like the French and even the Germans. The final sale is the premise.

Thiago Govea – He renewed the contract a few days before starting work, but the chance of transferring again is strong (it has a market in France for example). He played 45 minutes in the second half of the challenge for Southampton but was physically out of shape and struggled to keep up with the team. Unsurprisingly, it was not used in Switzerland. Schmidt appreciates his qualities, but he will hardly start the season in Luz.