First day of the 2021/2022 season Benfica. The Seixal Red Training Center opens its doors very early in the season. Today the physical tests, tomorrow the medical examinations at the hospital da Luz. Striker Rodrigo Pinho is the only reinforcement, winger Gilles Dias will be announced in the next few hours, and therefore a group with a more recent past than a future, even if with many young men in the ranks, some of them to stay in the squad. others to show potential until the squadron’s heavyweights and other reinforcements arrive.
It’s time to turn Benfica’s page and leave behind an era of failure. In the first season of Jorge Jesus after his return to Light, the promise of rock was not fulfilled, despite an investment of € 100 million. As you know, the Reds did not win trophies, they ended up in third place in the championship, which sends them to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, the draw of which is scheduled for July 19, and the first match on August 3/4 and from Monday to August 10. To advance to the UEFA Champions League group stage, conceded a goal last season and more importantly now, given the worsening financial difficulties, Benfica will of course have to go through the playoffs if they get out of the third qualifying round.
There is only one new face among the players who will appear in the Seixal from 8 am – Rodrigo Pinho. Center-back Ferro and midfielder Krovinovic are both returning on loan and no guarantee of joining the team. Jesús wants to see the Croat, the Portuguese must leave again as soon as Otamendi and Vertongen arrive, who are chosen accordingly. The team has fresh blood – center-back Tomás Araujo and midfielder Paulo Bernardo will make the final group, as well as several players from the previous squad who are most likely to leave, such as Nuno Tavares, Samaris, Chihinho or Franco. Cervi.
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