Marco Silva hints at Benfica exit three months after taking charge

Benfica head coach Marco Silva made a strongly worded statement about his future after a painful defeat in the clássico.

Details: The Portuguese coach suggested he could leave his post as the Eagles' manager prematurely, just three months after taking charge. His emotional outburst was triggered by the officiating in Benfica's away match against Porto on matchday seven of the Portuguese league. The Lisbon side lost 3-1, allowing their bitter rivals to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table.

According to British outlet The Mirror, citing Portuguese newspaper Record, Silva was furious over a red card shown to one of his players and the pressure being placed on the refereeing body.

“I will not comment on the sending-off. I don't know whether I will be able to continue in this way until the end of the season, because I represent a different football culture. Here, unfortunately, referees can be influenced before matches, after them and throughout the entire week, and sometimes it works. I am not going to follow that path,” the coach said.

The 49-year-old coach signed a contract with Benfica until June 2028 last summer, leaving Fulham after five successful seasons at Craven Cottage, where he was regarded as one of the Premier League's most consistent managers.

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