Mourinho confirms Tomás Araújo, António Silva for Benfica - Braga
Benfica - Braga arrives with José Mourinho saying there is no room left for anything but a win. He also said Tomás Araújo and António Silva will play, giving Benfica two key names back for a match that sits at the center of its last home game of the season.
Mourinho’s line on Braga
“Amanhã não temos de simular estados de alma porque é objetivo: temos de ganhar, não temos outra solução.” That was Mourinho’s message before the meeting with Sp. Braga, as Benfica heads into a game it must take to keep control of its own path.
He said Benfica have two absences for the match. Nicolás Otamendi is out, and Mourinho described that absence as important. Richard Ríos is also unavailable.
Tomás Araújo had trained without any limitation on Friday and Saturday, and Mourinho moved quickly to rule him in. “Joga o Tomás e joga o António Silva,” he said, adding another set piece to a lineup that has to work without Otamendi.
Tomás Araújo and António Silva
The selection decision narrows the uncertainty around Benfica’s back line. Gonçalo Oliveira did not play for Benfica B against Académico de Viseu so he could be on the bench on Sunday and provide protection in that position, giving Mourinho one more option behind the starters he named.
The Benfica coach also linked the timing of the match to Braga’s schedule. He said the game was moved to Monday by regulation and fairness, which gives Sp. Braga the fourth day after their Europa League match.
Mourinho said the third day after a European match is the real difficulty and that the fourth day does not pose any problem. He also said Sp. Braga are usually very strong in possession, so Benfica’s back line will be tested in a game that has no spare margin.
Real Madrid talk
The other thread running through Mourinho’s remarks had nothing to do with the pitch. He said, “Não tive nenhum contacto, nem com o presidente [Florentino Pérez], nem com nenhuma das pessoas importantes na estrutura.”
He added, “E por decisão minha, decisão essa parecida a outras que tive durante a minha carreira, principalmente agora numa fase final de épocas, eu não falo com ninguém.” Until Benfica’s last league match against Estoril, he said, that will not change. After that, he said there will be a one-week window in which he can speak with whomever he thinks he should speak with.
That leaves Benfica with a clear immediate task and a clear team sheet. The coach wants the home match won, Tomás Araújo and António Silva are set to start, and the season closes with Benfica still needing its own result before anything else matters.
