Whether we want to admit it or not, it was clear that 2013 was a disappointing year for Benfica. Although, some good came to us throughout the year, the negative outweighed the positive. It is still important as fans not to let the pessimistic attitudes distract us from getting behind this team in 2014. After all 2014 is another year and we must look forward and continue to show our support for this team. It's terrible that Benfica are out of the UEFA Champions League, in a year in which we are hosting the final, however there are still four possible titles at hand and although the 2013/14 got off to a rocky start, the season has not been decided yet and the team doesn't want to go through a winning less year as they have in the past.
Although Benfica ended the 2012/13 season with a record of 24wins 5 draws and only 1 loss, their impressive record was still not enough to surpass FC Porto who won the league with only 2 points more then Benfica resulting in a third straight year as league champions. So where did it all go wrong? well, here are the last 20 days of the season in which as Benfica fans we endured a series of disappointments.
No Treble
May 6, 2013 - Match day 28, Benfica hosted Estoril on a Monday to over 60, 000 fans. A win would of been very important to Benfica as they would of spent eight consecutive match days at number 1 in the league but also, a win against Estoril would basically ensure the championship to Benfica a title in which they have not won since 2009/10 season.
The game ended in 1-1 draw and although Benfica remained first place, it would now be a win or a tie away against FC Porto which wold clinch them the league title. What was constant with this result is that Benfica continues to struggle against small teams by underestimating them. Although looking back at this game it was Estoril's defence (led by Steven Vitoria who would ironically enough join Benfica in the up and coming season) that gave Benfica a harder time then their offence.
May 12, 2013 - Match day 29, FC Porto vs Benfica in a game which would decide the league title. Benfica needed to win or tie to keep their championship dreams alive. Although tied 1-1 until the 90 +2" it was Kelvin scoring the winning goal in which JJ and all of the Benfica Nation dropped to their knees in heartache. Yet again a third consecutive season in which Benfica came so close but were unable to surpass FC Porto to win the league. More heartache was still to come.
May 15, 2013 - UEFA Europa League Final Benfica vs. Chelsea in Amsterdam. Although Benfica were unable to advance out of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, they were able to have a successful campaign in the Europa League as they surpassed the likes of Newcastle, Marseille, and Fehnerbache to advance to the finals in Amsterdam. As "mediocre" of a title as the Europa Cup may be to some critics, it is still a UEFA title in which both teams would be happy to take home.
Benfica were also lucky on this day after goals scored by Cardozo and Torres, Benfica were in the 90+2" minute preparing to defend a corner and getting into the mindset of extra time or perhaps PK to decide this title when Ivanovich scored the winning goal making Chelsea the big winners in Amsterdam. Benfica has no luck against Chelsea as they were defeated a year prior in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
May 26, 2013 - National Stadium, Jamor, Benfica vs. Guimaraes. This was the first time in 9 years in which Benfica made it to the final of the Portugal Cup. The League, and UEFA Europa Cup were now in the past and this Portugal Cup was the only opportunity Jorge Jesus had to have the team regain their confidence in the team. Gaitan opened the score in the 30" but in the last 10 minutes of the game Guimaraes scored two goals causing Benfica to lose the Portugal Cup 2-1.
Jorge Jesus
As frustrating as it was to watch Benfica lose the treble in the final 20 days of the 2012/13 season, the main issue of Benfica's failures was Jorge Jesus.
Benfica played great footy all year round especially in a year in which they lost most of their mid Javi Garcia and Axel Witsel. Jorge Jesus stubbornness and changing tactics is what created problems on the pitch. This was especially evident during the Portugal Cup game.
Oscar Cardozo pushing JJ after losing the Portugal Cup should of made Jesus realize his foolish tactical decisions throughout that game. It made no sense to sub your best goal scorer Oscar Cardozo in the 69th minute for Urreta a winger which has not played enough games throughout the season to come in and make an impact in the last 20 minutes of the game. Enzo coming off in the 86th minute for Aimar would of made for a better sending off if Aimar got to play at least more then 10 minutes in every game throughout the season. This is Jorge Jesus and trying to figure out his every move does not make much sense.
We can criticize these three big games and question Jorge Jesus decision making and I can accept the fact that perhaps the Benfica defense did not cover Ivanovich properly to allow Chelsea to win the Europa League and I can accept that it may of been bad defending or bad luck which cause Kelvin to score the winning goal for FC Porto in the 92" minute but underestimating Estoril and losing the Cup to Guimaraes were situations in which could of been avoided by substituting in the proper players during the Gumaraes game and by changing to a more attacking formation while the game was tied against Estoril so that Benfica could of pressed more and not settle for a tie.
Half of the 2013/14 season has come and gone and Jorge Jesus is still with us. A 4-3-3 formation seems to produce results when it is implemented but Jesus would much rather enforce a 2 man midfield which has produced mediocre wins and unnecessary draws in league games and an early dismissal in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League.
After discussing this constantly on the Talking To The Doll: Benfica Podcast we have all agreed that the 4-3-3 formation works. The third man in allows for an evenly, better distributed ball creating more opportunities for the team to create chances to score. Secretly Jesus must know that 4-3-3 works. Speaking hypothetically of course, perhaps Jesus feels the need to change his team's formation so that the opposing team can't predict his strategy or formation. The problem is although Benfica have only conceded one lost in league competition their results have been decent at times but mostly mediocre.
Going into Match day 15 against FC Porto, Benfica are currently involved in a three way tie at 33 points with the big three. Looking back at these results, Benfica should be on top of the league with 40 points only allowing for a drop of points with a draw against Sporting Lisbon. There was no reason as to why Benfica had to lose points by drawing to Arouca, and Belenenses. Benfica often struggles against smaller teams it's as if they expect these teams to lay down for Benfica but it's when these smaller teams play their best is against Benfica.
2014
Benfica begin the first part of 2014 with some tough challenges ahead of them. The loss of one of their top goal scorers Oscar Cardozo has allowed Lima and Rodrigo in a position to step up and put their names on the tally sheet. Lima is currently Benfica's top goal scorer with 7 goals, Rodrigo with 4. To make matters worse Benfica's top midfield Nemanja Matic may be on his way out as teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Napoli are rumoured to show interest in the 25 year old Serbian midfielder.
In terms of talent Benfica are not lacking talent nor depth. With the arrival of such players as Filip Djuricic, Lbjumir Fejsa, Miralem Sulejmani, and Lazar Markovic it is surprising that Benfica are not blowing away the competition, instead they are struggling to surpass Sporting, and FC Porto in the league standings and lose unnecessary points to smaller clubs.
I am of the belief that although unconvincing thus far, Benfica have the capabilities to reinvent themselves throughout the second half of the season. Regardless of who arrives and departs from the club in January, Benfica cannot afford to lose the league for a fourth season in a row. Ideally I would like to predict that Benfica will win all 4 available titles but Benfica have a good chance of winning at least 2 out of the 4 potential titles. I base this is on the fact that upon the arrival of Jorge Jesus, Benfica have only won 1 league championship and 3 Portuguese league cup titles and losing a fourth consecutive year to FC Porto will upset many fans (who may yet again lose interest in the team for the upcoming season continuing to cause poor attendance at the Luz) but also Benfica's key players may become even more frustrated with the team's lack of success and may decide to go elsewhere. Such players as Salvio, Matic, Garay, Gaitan, John have all been rumoured to a move to the EPL. The departure of quality players is always evident but too much change at once can be more detrimental to a team then compensating for a quick cash grab. For example; although Tottenham sold Gareth Bale for a record high transfer fee, the money has not compensated for the teams mediocre season thus far.
If you look at the 2012/13 season Benfica were in first place for 17 out of the 30 matchday's in the Liga including 8 consecutive weeks from 21-28. Although Benfica have yet to clinch first place this season, the season is not over yet and depending on the results against FC Porto and Sporting, winning the league is not a far fetched idea considering Benfica have beaten Sporting already (Portuguese Cup) and FC Porto have less depth and are just as mediocre as Benfica.
The relationship between coach and players is clearly distant on Benfica. Benfica with or without JJ need to move forward and win the league if not for the fans then themselves. For a team to get results the players need to believe in their coach and the system that he is implementing on the pitch and the coach needs to have faith in his players. None of this is currently happening at the club as player individuality is coming out in players like Matic, and Jesus has no faith in certain players. Although Benfica have the depth (Djuricic, John are missing factors) and the tools (a 4-3-3 formation when appropriate) to blow away even the toughest of competitors, lack of unity is what is hurting this team. Is there such a thing as Jesus performing a New Year's Miracle?
Looking ahead in the new year, I will be looking at the much talked about best youth system in Portugal. I'll give you a hint, it's not Sporting Lisbon.
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