Marco Silva, Benfica's coach, apologized for the "ignorance" he showed regarding FC Porto's choices between the Portuguese league and the Europa League in the 2025/26 season. His statements come just days before the classic match between Benfica and Porto at the Estádio do Dragão, a game that is imminent on the sporting calendar.
The red-and-white coach acknowledged not having detailed information about the choices the dragons made last season regarding the management of their starting lineup between domestic and European competitions, thus admitting his lack of knowledge on the subject.
Marco Silva also took the opportunity to clarify that his own rotation options in the match against Milan will be very related to the fact that it is the fourth encounter in just 11 days, since the team made the trip to Madeira. This logistical detail seems to be decisive in the coach's decisions to manage the players' effort.
The rotation topic has been particularly relevant in both clubs' approaches to competitions, with coaches having to balance the need for player rest with the demand for results across multiple fronts, something that will certainly be present in both teams' strategies for the rest of the season.
