Behind the Scenes Drama: Benfica's Karma on the Bench Threatens Team's Club World Cup Progress
Benfica's coach incites friction with high-profile player, leading to an outburst of anger
Catch the latest hype as Benfica Lisbon takes on FC Bayern in the penultimate group stage match of the 2025 Club World Cup, aiming to secure a spot in the knockout round. But the buzz isn't just about the game—there's a storm brewing beneath the surface.
The team's performance has been solid in the tourney so far, placing second with four points and looking promising for a coveted spot in the next round. With Bayern in their sights, a draw would seal the deal. But, if they stumble, the goal difference could be the deciding factor. Boca Juniors squares off against Auckland City in the other match.
But it's the dramatic events off the pitch that are grabbing everyone's attention. During the second match against Auckland, a major argument broke out on the bench, starring Coach Bruno Lage and his fired-up midfielder, Orkun Kökcü. Kökcü was none too pleased when pulled off the field in the 61st minute, and newcomer Renato Sanches stepped up in his place. When Sanches netted a goal moments later, scoring 3:0, tempers flared. Lage argued with Kökcü about his substitution, leading to a heated back-and-forth. Kökcü firmly pointed his finger at the coach, and only a teammate's timely intervention prevented him from exploding out of his seat.
After the match, Lage tried to downplay the incident, attributing Kökcü's outburst to his competitive spirit and desire to score more goals. The coach claimed that despite the team's form, he always makes the decisions. Kökcü's behavior might go unpunished, as the coach described him as a consistently professional athlete, albeit with one isolated incident.
Got a Coach Issue? Ask Coach Schmidt!
Curiously, Lage also hinted at Kökcü's prior conflicts with a coach, although he didn't specify who. Rumors abound that Kökcü had a bust-up with Lage's predecessor, Roger Schmidt. Back in last season, Kökcü alleged that he felt he was promised a significant role at the club by Schmidt but was assigned excessive defensive tasks instead, hindering his creative play.
Schmidt didn't take Kökcü's comments lightly—he was left off the squad for the following league match in response. Schmidt was soon relieved of his duties at the club a few months later.
** klubworldcup2025 ** ** benficafcfootball **
[1] [4]: enrichment data on the conflicts between Kökcü and Lage[2]: enrichment data on Fenerbahçe's intervention on Kökcü's behalf
- Amidst the heated drama surrounding Coach Bruno Lage and midfielder Orkun Kökcü, questions about the community policy and employment policy within Benfica FC might arise, considering Kökcü's apparently strained relationship with a former coach, Roger Schmidt.
- In light of Kökcü's public criticisms towards Coach Schmidt last season and the subsequent fallout, it would be interesting to analyze the sports-analysis of how such disputes within a team can impact the performance both on and off the football pitch.
