With nine games – at least – to go to the end of the season, next season is already starting to appear in the SAD red desk led by Rui Costa.

The Benfica president has been working for some time to build the 2022/2023 squad in a limited group consisting of Rui Pedro Braz, sporting director, and Lourenso Pereira Coelho, SAD director. Although some doubts remain, namely about the final classification of this season – which determines the start of the next – and above all with regard to the coach who will be in charge from summer onwards, the truth is that there are already several processes at the Red Chief’s table that require taking timely decision.

The training profile is, of course, one of the most urgent. Nelson Verissimo, who took charge of the team as the season continued, after the departure of Jorge Jesus, was able to gain time in light of the way he managed the dressing room and the positive response of the team in recent matches, specifically in the draw with Ajax. Strictly speaking, no position has been taken on whether or not Veríssimo will continue next season, with the assessment largely dependent on the outcome of the upcoming competitive cycle, with matches with SC Braga, Sporting and Liverpool in the middle. But the time of the technician is not excluded.

With regard to the composition of the team, the actions that will be adopted will not have to wait for the identification of the coach’s personality.

In SAD, there is already awareness of the way forward, and there are many changes on the agenda. First of all, because there are players that arouse interest in the market – names like Darwin, Grimaldo, Weigl or even Rafa and Everton.

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