Switzerland Day 3

With the third day of camp in the books, a new question to an old issue arises, the medical front gives us mixed news, and JJ's first starting 11 takes shape.


The biggest story to emerge out of camp seems to be who the starting goalkeeper will be. While JJ has given us plenty of clues as to who will be where in other positions, He's kept us guessing as to who will be in a goal, as all three keepers have been used with a very high degree of randomness in team scrimmages.
The front runners have to be Quim and Moreira, but i wouldn't discount Moretto.

I could never understand Benfica's intentions to acquire a keeper, in my opinion Benfica is very well served in the goal keeping department, acquiring a another goal keeper in detriment of one the three just seems like a waste of money.
Both Moreira and Quim have the talent to be(and have been) national team keepers, while Moretto, although spotty at times, can hold his own, and has enough talent to be number 1.
It'll be interesting year for both Quim and Moreira who are in their last year of contract and come January can consider their options.

Moreira has long been hailed as the future of Benfica's nets, a product of Benfica's youth system, Moreira dealt with serious injuries in the previous 2 seasons, but had an injury free season, and played 15 games out of a possible 44 for Benfica last season.
Although he started last season as #2, he captured the starting job right before the half way point of the season, after a less than stellar phase from Quim. He was relegated to the bench in the last third of the season with no justifiable reason, but emerged as a starting keeper in the last two games of the season, at a time the league was already decided.

Quim on the other hand, has been Benfica's #1 for the past 3 seasons. However this past season we witnessed a bit of inconsistency from a player whose trademark is consistency.
Considered by many the best Portuguese goal keeper going into this past Summer's Euro, Quim was finally able to be Portugal's number #1 after Portugal's Euro debacle and Scolari's step down.
During his brief period as Portugal's number one, Quim entered an unrecognizable period of form both at a national level and at a club level. Perhaps feeling the pressure of finally being Portugal's number #1. Quim's performances at a national team level carried on to Benfica and he ended up losing his starting spot to Moreira.
Despite losing his starting job, Quim was still the keeper that played most of the games, having played 23 out of a possible 44.
He regained his starting job after an impressive performance in the final of the league Cup, and was Benfica's starting keeper in the final stretch of the season.

Moretto should be happy that he is starting on level terms with the men who have blocked him from a starting job last season. Last year he came into pre-season a bit late and Quique might have already made up his mind as to who the starting keeper would be. He could probably start for 10 teams in the Liga Sagres, and JJ should be happy with the depth he has in the goalkeeping department.

Although a bit too early, these two games should give us some insight as to stands where.

In the medical front, Balboa made his camp debut this past Friday, as he joined his team mates in training, although under observation from the medical department. Sidnei and David Luiz continue to recuperate from muscular injuries, splitting their time between the hotel and the 3rd session of the afternoon, where they both warmed up with the team, but did specific work for the remainder of the session.
Joining the injury list was Ruben Amorim, who has been diagnosed with a myalgia, and could not participate in Friday's training sessions.

As for the rest of the team, this Sunday's starting 11 seems to be taking shape. With the only doubt remaining in goal, the team should be very close to the following - Maxi on the right, Roderik, and Miguel Vitor in the center and Shaffer on the left. Shaffer emerged on the team that seems to be starting one, although it's not clear whether he has beaten Sepsi for the job.
In the midfield, Yebda should be the main candidate to be in fromt of the defence while on the two sides of the diamond, Carlos Martins and the DiMaria seem to be the front runners, as well as Aimar on the top side of the diamond, Up Front, Cardozo and Saviola.

This saturday's sessions have been cut to one, as the team will travel in the afternoon to Sion, where they will play the locals.

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Switzerland Day 2

Benfica's first full day of the Swiss mini camp was composed of three sessions, as will the rest of the days with the exception of Monday and Tuesday(matchdays).
Only one of the three sessions was open to the media and the public, hence the information that arrives through the media is limited.

The first session served mainly to work on the physical aspect of the team, while the second session was devoted to tactical aspects.
The third session was a little shorter than the day before, but even so, it is possible to start figuring some of what JJ is trying to do with the team. The formation will be without a doubt the 4-4-2 in a diamond configuration with Aimar being at of ends of the diamond. The rest of the midfield is still to find their other components, as several players have taken turns playing the different ends of the diamond, with the exception of the above mentioned Aimar. Yebda, Carlos Martins, Jorge Ribeiro, Ruben Amorim, DiMaria, and David Luiz have all played in the midfield.

In the back line, the situation has been a bit different, part of it because of lack of options(due to injuries, and Luisao's absence), part of it because JJ likes to build his teams from the defense forward. Maxi and Sepsi have been on the sides of the defense, while in the middle it's been the junior Roderick and Miguel Vitor, as both Sidnei and David Luiz are not 100% to be part of the regular training session. Up front, Saviola and Cardozo seem to be the starting duo.

Speaking of injuries, Balboa and the aforementioned David Luiz and Sidnei are still under care of Benfica's medical departments. The first one, just like the day before, continues to undergo treatment and has not even been together with his team mates. Luiz and Sidnei, also like the day before, continue to warm up the team, but will then do specific work as part of rehabilitation. Mantorras also did specific work, but this is all part of his day to day.

In the first press conference of this mini camp, Maxi was the chosen player by Benfica to face the media, below is the press conference that is in today's "A Bola" that i have translated to english.

The Uruguayan International right back speaks like he plays, always consistent without compromising himself, without making mistakes.
He could have surprised many by stating that porto is the favorite, in virtue of being the current champion, but Maxi also knows that titles are demanded of Benfica and the team is prepared to meet those demands.

How is the start of the season going, with a new coach and new working methods?

We are working well and listening to what the coach tells us. With every day that goes by we understand more and more what he asks of us. He works a lot with the defenders, which is good for me. When a new coach arrives, we have to listen to what he has to say, so that we can play like he wants in the games.

Has he spoken a lot with the team?

He talks a lot with the players, both on an individual level and on a collective level, so that we can get it in our heads how he wants us to play.
In my case he tells me how he wants the defense to move and how the side backs should play. We have to be attentive, as he is a coach who has done a good job with the teams he has coached, and has a big desire that everything goes well here at Benfica also.

How do you compare this year's Benfica to last year's Benfica as far as dynamic?

Whenever there's a new coach it's different. Last season there was different coach, different players, it's hard to compare.

Is this squad stronger than last season's?

That's something we will have to see throughout the season. At this moment, this squad is the best, and will try to do things right. We hope that we'll be stronger because last season we couldn't reach the team's objective, which was to win the championship. We think of ourselves better in order to achieve what we want.

Even if you had to start from scratch, with a new coach, does Benfica assume themselves as a favorite.. or is porto the favorite?

We have to admit that porto, because they are the team who have been the champions in the past few years, will be the favorites. But Benfica is a big club that always has the obligation to fight for the title, and be the champion.
Sometimes it's not easy when a new coach arrives and new players arrive, to adapt fast. We have to listen to the coach.
It's normal that not everything will be perfect in the beginning, but our desire is to always win and get to the end of the season in first. We have the obligation, this and every year, to fight until the end. I think this is a team that has a very big desire to reach victory at the end.

How do you evaluate your starting position competitor, Patric?

We have talked a lot. I speak to him a lot, he is a good player and an excellent team mate. He is adapting well and has found himself to be a good fit for the team. I have to admit that i was surprised, as I didn't know him, and he is a very talented player, whose acquisition will pay off for Benfica.

Were you waiting for this type of support here in Switzerland?

Honestly no. I wasn't aware that there were so many Portuguese in this country. It was also a way to realize the magnitude of a club like Benfica.

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Pre-season Matches to be Televised

Portuguese TV Station SIC has just announced that they have acquired the rights and will carry six games from Benfica's Pre-Season.
Here are the 6 games that will be televised by SIC:
Sion
Shakhtar Donetsk
Ajax
Sunderland
AC Milan
Europa League Qualifier

Good news for those of you who live on this side of the Atlantic, as the games will most likely carried on by SPTTV on Dish Network.

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Switzerland Day 1

Three hours after landing in Switzerland, Benfica was on the practice field for a training session. The training session was far from being a quiettraining session, as around 500 fans paid to see Benfica up close in their first training session in Swiss soil.
Right in the outskirts of Geneve, FC Meyrin's sporting complex was the chosen location for this week long mini camp, that will include Benfica's first two exhibition games against Switzerland's Sion and UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk.


For this camp Jesus called on the following players:

Keepers - Moreira, Quim and Moretto

Defenders - Patric, Shaffer, Maxi Pereira, Roderick Miranda(junior), Sepsi, David Luiz, Jorge Ribeiro, Sidnei, Miguel Vítor and João Pereira(junior)

Midfielders - Rúben Amorim, Aimar, Balboa, Fellipe Bastos, Urreta, Carlos Martins, Fábio Coentrão, Di María and Yebda;

Forwards - Cardozo, Mantorras, Nuno Gomes, Nélson Oliveira(junior) and Saviola.

Confederation Cup Champions Luisao and Ramires are still absent and properly authorized by the team. Luisao is enjoying a well deserved vacation period, while Ramires was in action this past Wednesday night for the Libertadores, as Cruzeiro traveled to Argentina and tied Estudiantes in the first of two legs final.

The biggest team news from the first day of camp are the first 3 injuries of the season. Sidnei, Balboa and David Luiz are all under the care of Benfica's medical department. Sidnei complained about a muscular problem at the end of last week and has been trying to nurse that injury, he warmed up with the team but was limited to light jogging and specific exercises for the remainder of the training session.
In a similar situation is David Luiz, who has been reported of suffering from a myalgia. Luiz also warmed up with the team, but was under the care of Benfica's physio for the rest of the training session.
Balboa on the other hand, didn't even step on the training pitch as his presence was merely as an observer. Balboa is currently suffering from an Achilles heel tendon injury to his right foot, and did specific work and treatment at the hotel, before making his way to the Stade des Arberes to watch the rest of the squad work out.

JJ has announced 3 a days for the remaining of the mini camp, with the exception falling on game days off course, here's the schedule for thursday's training session:

8.00 h. Brief training session with emphasis on endurance running at the Stade des Arberes, closed to the media and public.

10.30 h. Second Training session, also closed to the public and media.S

5.45pm Press conference with a player yet to be designated.

6.00pm h. Third training session open to fans and the media.

For more pictures of the training complex click here

PS - If any readers from Switzerland want to send pictures of the training sessions and of the surrounding atmosphere in general during this mini camp, they can email them to fumasslb at gmail.com, and i will be sure to post them up.

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A Busy July

With the first week of pre-season in the books, Benfica gets ready for a busy July. Trips to Switzerland and Holland are on the schedule, as well as exhibitions matches, and two tournaments. It'll be the first opportunity to look at JJ's version of Benfica, and whether we should maintain high expectations or if we should proceed with caution.


This week Benfica will be at Caixa Futebol Campus, where they will train Monday and Tuesday before leaving for Switzerland on Wednesday. During their stay in Switzerland the team will play two exhibition matches, the first one(and first one of the season) will be against Sion, July 12th. There is also talks about a match about against Shahktar Donetsk, but no date has yet been formalized by the club.
On the 15th, the team will return to Portugal via Algarve where they will get ready to participate in the Guadiana Tourney with matches against Atl Bilbao and Anderlecht, on the 16th and 18th respectively.
After Algarve the team will make the trip up to Lisbon where they will most likely enjoy a day off on the 19th, only to come back to work on the 20th, where they will prepare the Official Introduction to the Fans game against Atl Madrid.
A special night not only for the fans who have so much hope deposited on the team, but also for Simao who will return to his former stomping grounds for the first time since leaving 2 years ago this summer.
Following that Tuesday's game, Benfica should be back in the air on Wednesday, as they will need to travel to Amsterdam for that city's tournament where they will be playing on Friday and Sunday, against Sunderland and Ajax respectively.
It'll be back to Portugal where Benfica will start wrapping up their July and preparing for yet another tournament, where they will meet Guimaraes and Portsmouth, in the Guimaraes tournament starting the 31st of July.

Certainly a month full of matches and chances to get a good look at the team. Although pre-season games aren't a very good indicator as to what the season will do during the season, there's still a lot to be taken out of these matches and the team's progress throughout the month.
For one, the squad will start to take shape and we will see a certain degree of separation between the candidates to positions and second stringers. It'll be an interesting month to say the least, throw in the Liga Sagres drawing this upcoming weekend, where Benfica will find out their 09/10 season schedule and we have a very interesting July, not to mention that it's been over a month without seeing the team in action.

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