Ahead of our Champions League game against Benfica, Éter from Ceu Encarnado has taken time to answer a few questions for us about tonight’s opponents.

Scott the Red: Last season you finished miles behind Porto. Are you confident you can catch them up this season?

Éter: Sure. If I wasn’t confident I wouldn’t even bother to watch the matches.

STR: You’ve sold on some important players recently. Who are Benfica’s most dangerous players now?

E: Cardozo is not very fast, but his left foot is deadly. Aimar is the maestro and can make impossible passes. Witsel has arrived this season but is already showing a lot of quality. Nolito has a bit of the famous Barça’s “tiki-taka” and has scored a lot of goals already. Luisão is very dangerous with corners.

STR: How highly do you rate Luiz and Ramires who left you for Chelsea?

E: When comparing both players, I think that I miss David Luiz more from an emotional point of view, and Ramires more from a practical one. Luiz had a very strong bond with the fans and, of course, he’s also a great player, with tremendous skill for a centre-back, which allows him to advance up the field and open holes in the opposition’s midfield. Few centre-backs in the world can do that. But he’s still very young and with a lot to learn, sometimes he loses the ball in stupid places.

Ramires is utterly irreplaceable and one of the reasons to Benfica’s poor performance last season. In a couple of seconds he’s stealing a ball near his own area, passing it to a team mate and when you watch again he’s in the other area to score. He’s an amazing player with superhuman lungs.

STR: Which United players would you most like at Benfica?

E: Rooney is the most obvious answer. But also Evra, Vidic, Anderson, Nani and Chicharito.

STR: How far do you realistically think Benfica can go in the Champions League this season?

E: I’m counting on reaching the next phase. And with luck in the draw, perhaps reach the quarter-finals.

STR: How do you predict tonight will finish?

E: 2-2.

STR: Cheers. Enjoy the game!




------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.