Benfica head coach Marco Silva insists his side must perform at their highest level against Aarhus in Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg in Denmark.
The Portuguese club travel to Denmark with a 3-1 advantage following the first leg at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, but Silva warned that the squad are still far from reaching their potential after eight weeks of work.
Silva acknowledged that while Benfica have been playing well, significant improvement is still required before the team reaches the standard he expects.
Squad progress and Palhinha signing
Addressing the progress of the team ahead of the return leg, Silva said it would be unreasonable to expect a coach to have a dream team after only eight weeks in charge. He stated that Benfica remain very far from their ideal setup, though he clarified that his comments were not intended to lower expectations or retreat from the club's season objectives.
The head coach also expressed satisfaction with the arrival of midfielder João Palhinha, noting that the Portuguese international would help make the team stronger. Palhinha previously played under Silva for two years, and the manager emphasized that the recruitment aligned with the specific player profile Benfica sought to improve the squad.
Tactical challenges in Denmark
Aarhus reached the final qualifying tie after knocking out Swiss club St. Gallen and Scottish side Hearts in previous rounds. The Danish team are now the final barrier between Benfica and a place in the Europa League league phase.
Despite holding a two-goal cushion from the home fixture, Silva said he anticipates a determined response from Aarhus on their home turf. He noted that the hosts will aim to leverage home support, disrupt Benfica's rhythm, and deprive them of comfortable possession.
Reflecting on the first leg in Lisbon, Silva pointed out that Aarhus struggled to control the ball because Benfica maintained a high pressing strategy throughout the match. However, he expressed frustration that Benfica did not secure a larger victory, describing the single goal conceded at home as completely avoidable.
Team news and player fitness
Benfica will be without Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Aursnes, who suffered a right ankle sprain and remained in Seixal for medical treatment. Aursnes had only just returned to action in the first leg against Aarhus, playing his first six minutes of the season after a previous injury layoff.
Silva lamented the setback, stating that the player's recurring fitness interruptions have been disappointing for both the team and Aursnes. Although he had planned to give the midfielder more minutes in Denmark, Silva confirmed the injury does not appear severe and expected Aursnes to rejoin team training after the match.
In contrast, forward Jhon Durán has been included in the traveling squad after working in the gym during Wednesday morning's training session at the club's Seixal facility. New defender signing Alessandro Circati has also been called up for the first time and is available to make his debut.
