Marco Silva returns to coach Benfica’s training with 30 players.

Total surprise in Seixal: Marco Silva once again gathered 30 players on the pitch of Benfica, in a training session where intensity, physical work, and the ball shared the spotlight, demonstrating that the coach is not joking around this pre-season. The demands of the new Benfica leader were felt from the first minute, with gym sessions preceding tactical exercises and the ball rolling with direct instructions and no room for distractions.

The Benfica squad, still filled with options after the holidays, presented itself this Saturday for another pre-season training under the command of Marco Silva. The coach, who returned to Portuguese football with renewed ambition, worked again with an expanded group of 30 athletes, including several young players from the academy and new faces trying to impress in the fight for a place in the starting eleven. The sessions took place at the training center in Seixal, in a highly competitive atmosphere, where no one seems to have a guaranteed spot.

The World Cup is experienced with LEGO.

The importance of this season’s kickoff lies in the evident need to build a team that reflects the coach’s vision, who has made it clear that discipline, intensity, and tactical rigor are non-negotiable. Benfica is preparing for a crucial season, with the objective of reclaiming the national championship title and making an impact in European competitions, following a season that fell short of expectations. Marco Silva faces the challenge of integrating new signings, enhancing the talents from the academy, and, above all, creating a collective capable of meeting the demands of the club and its supporters, who do not hide their impatience for victories.

At the end of the session, Marco Silva spoke to journalists about his expectations for this expanded group: “At this moment, everyone has to show that they deserve to stay. Pre-season is for evaluating, for working, and for understanding who is committed to the project. The demand is maximum, and those who cannot keep up will be left behind,” the coach stated, emphasizing the importance of these first days of work in defining the final squad. When asked about the focus on young players, Marco Silva added: “The door is open to everyone, but those who will play are the ones who show quality and dedication. Benfica has a strong tradition of developing talent, and we will take advantage of that, but there are no guaranteed spots for anyone.”

The atmosphere in Seixal leaves no room for doubt: a competitive squad is being formed, and Marco Silva’s filtering process promises to be relentless. In the coming days, the team has scheduled more high-intensity training sessions and preparatory matches that will be crucial for the coach’s selections. The fate of several players, including potential departures and possible reinforcements, will soon be known as the coach fine-tunes the group for the first official tests.

Fan expectations grow with each passing day. Under Marco Silva’s leadership, Benfica is entering a phase of profound change and renewed hope, where only the strongest will endure. The next month will be decisive in understanding who will be part of the new era and in assessing how far this Benfica can go in 2024/25. The signs are clear: the time for leniency is over, and only those who prove worthy of wearing the eagle emblem on their chest will survive.

NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE