A storm brewed in Mirandela recently. Luís Filipe Vieira, a former president, spoke to club members. He offered strong criticism of Rui Costa and Bruno Lage. Vieira did not hold back his thoughts on the club’s current state. He pointed to a deep dissatisfaction within the football team. He also expressed regret about staff members leaving the club.
Vieira believes Benfica is facing a critical moment. He drew a line from his time, 2001 to 2021, to the present. He noted the last four years have been especially tough. He said many people feel the club lacks clear leadership. There is no real vision or planning today, he claimed. The club spends millions on players without a clear strategy. This approach, he suggested, shows something is wrong.
Early season results, like those against Amadora, Alverca, and Santa Clara, signaled trouble. Vieira thinks everyone needs to think together to make smart choices. He confessed he didn’t need to be involved anymore. Yet, worries grew within the club. He saw key staff disappearing. The whole operation doesn’t function as it should, he observed. Many people, he felt, lost their desire to work for Benfica. Some simply left. This exodus, he argued, mirrors the club’s leadership vacuum.
He also had sharp words for Bruno Lage. Vieira declared that no Benfica coach ever truly has a secure job. When the team underperforms, fans quickly become unhappy. This was a challenge he faced himself during his tenure. He added that the current board focuses solely on immediate results. They seem to care about nothing else.
Vieira believes the recent strategy involves investing in players “any old way.” This overlooks what he considers most vital for Benfica: its youth academy. While strengthening the main squad is good, homegrown players must have a place, he insisted. Someone once said the squad should have 19 players plus youth team members. Yet, some current players, especially from the youth ranks, are not getting game time. They traveled to the USA, for example, but didn’t play a single minute.
Fans and members are understandably let down. Still, the championship season has only just begun. The team has seen millions in investment. Despite this, players sometimes look unhappy to be at Benfica, Vieira said. They complain about not getting enough rest. However, other teams are clearly playing better than Benfica right now.