Tension mounts at Benfica as the right-backs return exhausted from international duty. The marathon of international matches presents an urgent dilemma for José Mourinho: how to manage his players’ fatigue to keep the team at the top in domestic competitions? The answer may lie in strategic adjustments in defense, particularly in the crucial right-back position.
The standout player is Amar Dedic, the Bosnian who logged the most minutes in the recent international window, but arrives at Benfica in a complicated situation. Sent off in Arouca, Dedic is suspended for Monday’s match against Casa Pia, leaving a difficult gap to fill in the Benfica defense. The young defender played an exhausting 232 minutes during decisive extra time matches against Wales and Italy, helping Bosnia secure a historic spot in the World Cup, celebrating the penalty shootout victory on an epic night in Sarajevo, immortalized by himself on social media.
On the other side, Alexander Bah, the Danish international, is experiencing an intense moment. After recovering from injury, he accumulated over 200 minutes in two grueling matches: 81 minutes against North Macedonia and 120 minutes against the Czech Republic, where his team was eliminated in the penalty shootout, missing out on World Cup qualification. His physical condition is now a real concern for Mourinho, who will have to decide whether to rely on the exhausted Dane or seek alternatives.
E promising alternatives exist. Daniel Banjaqui, an 18-year-old gem from Benfica’s academy, emerges as a fresh and motivated solution. The young right-back returns to Seixal with boosted confidence after shining with the Portuguese U21s, scoring a goal and completing two matches against Scotland and Azerbaijan, both with impressive victories. His contract renewal is imminent, reinforcing the Eagles’ commitment to the future.
More options are appearing on the horizon for Mourinho, who can turn to Sidny Cabral, who also gained international minutes for Cape Verde in New Zealand, or even Tomás Araújo, a versatile central defender experienced at right-back, who represented Portugal in two full matches, demonstrating versatility and resilience.
This is a decisive moment for José Mourinho to smartly manage his team, balancing the physical freshness and experience of his right-backs. The international window has brought fatigue but also revealed talents that could be key to Benfica’s success in the upcoming fixtures. The Portuguese coach thus has a range of choices to maintain defensive solidity and prevent the fatigue from international duty from translating into a drop in performance in the league. The match against Casa Pia will be a crucial test for these decisions, and options remain open to ensure that Benfica does not lose momentum during this critical phase of the season.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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