---
title: "\"What I saw today pleased me\": Marco Silva reveals Sudakov's role in Benfica's tactics after goal against Gil Vicente"
description: "After Benfica's 4-1 League Cup win over Gil Vicente, Marco Silva detailed Sudakov's role in the team's tactics, praised him as a team player, and noted that the Ukrainian still needs to fine-tune his defensive interactions."
date: 2026-10-30T12:34:18.337Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/marco-silva-explains-sudakov-tactical-role-benfica
tags: [benfica, georgiy-sudakov, marco-silva, portugal-league-cup, gil-vicente, ukrainian-footballers]
author: "Dmitriy Shatolov"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "What I saw today pleased me": Marco Silva reveals Sudakov's role in Benfica's tactics after goal against Gil Vicente

![Benfica head coach Marco Silva passionately gestures from the touchline during a match](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/silva-otmenil-rol-sudakova-v-taktike-benfiki-posle-gola-v-kubke-ligi/silva-otmenil-rol-sudakova-v-taktike-benfiki-posle-gola-v-kubke-ligi-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Marco Silva highly praised Sudakov's performance in the Portuguese League Cup quarter-final against Gil Vicente (4-1)
- Sudakov scored a spectacular long-range goal, which was Benfica's second of the match
- Silva explained that in possession Sudakov's role is flank-independent, while in defense the team shifts to 4-4-2
- The coach pointed out the need to refine Sudakov's interaction in the middle block and flank coverage
- This season Sudakov has 18 matches, 2 goals, and 1 assist for Benfica; Porto awaits in the League Cup semi-finals

Benfica head coach Marco Silva, in a detailed post-match interview published on the club's official website, praised the performance of Ukrainian midfielder Georgiy Sudakov in the Portuguese League Cup quarter-final match against Gil Vicente. The encounter ended in a convincing 4-1 victory for the Eagles, with one of the highlights being Sudakov's spectacular long-range shot, which marked his team's second goal. The manager emphasized that for the 24-year-old Ukrainian, this goal was not merely a scoring episode, but an important personal milestone in his Portuguese football career.

### Tactical function: what changes and what remains the same

Answering questions about how exactly Sudakov fits into the team's setup, Marco Silva provided a detailed explanation. According to the coach, when in possession of the ball, the Ukrainian's role practically does not depend on which flank he operates on: "Since Sudakov is a classic midfielder, his role remains unchanged regardless of whether he operates on the left or the right." Silva compared him to other players who step into the central midfield position outside of their natural role, noting that in Sudakov's case, his function in the attacking phase is predictable and stable.

### Defense: transition to 4-4-2 and duties in the middle block

Significantly more differences arise in the defensive phase, according to Silva. When Benfica is without the ball, Sudakov drops deeper, joining the work of the defensive midfielder—the so-called "number six." As a result, the entire team shifts to a 4-4-2 formation, and the Ukrainian finds himself closer to his own goal rather than in the attacking zone. The coach directly pointed out aspects that need refinement: "He is required to understand the principles of cover: the ability to operate within a middle block, help the other central midfielder, or, if necessary, cover the flanks. We still have work to do with him, but what I saw today pleased me."

### Personal evaluation: a team player in an unusual position

Silva placed a separate emphasis on Sudakov's team-first character. "It is also important that he scored a goal—and a great one at that. For him, this is a big event, and besides, he played a very strong match. He is a team player: even playing in an unusual position for himself, he works hard for the benefit of the collective when we are without the ball. I am pleased with him," the manager stated. Thus, the coach confirmed that Sudakov is capable of adapting to non-standard areas of the pitch without losing discipline and dedication.

### Statistics and upcoming matches

In the current season, 24-year-old Sudakov has played 18 matches for Benfica, scoring two goals and providing one assist. In the match against Gil Vicente, he started and played a productive game, securing his team's advancement to the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals. In the next stage of the tournament, Benfica will face Porto. Before this match, Silva's team will play a Portuguese league game against Alverca, giving the coaching staff an additional opportunity to work on the defensive interactions that Silva insisted upon in his comments.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Судаков провел сильный матч": тренер "Бенфики" остался в восторге от игры украинца](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/sudakov-proviv-silniy-match-trener-benfiki-1793356495.html) - Первоисточник: цитаты Силвы, статистика Судакова, результат матча, информация о полуфинале
- [Марку Силва: Важно, что Судаков забил, и провел сильный матч, я доволен им](https://sportarena.ua/football/chempionat-portugalii/marku-silva-vazhno-chto-sudakov-zabil-i-provel/) - Подтверждает счёт 4:1, цитаты тренера о тактических ролях и схеме 4-4-2
- [Отпраздновал юбилей голом. Судаков провел 50-й матч за Бенфику](https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/ukrainians/1791801436-otprazdnoval-yubiley-golom-sudakov-provel-50-y-match-za-benfiku.html) - Подтверждает возраст (24 года) и клубную принадлежность Судакова; юбилейный матч — отдельное событие
- [Судаков отреагировал на победу Бенфики над Миланом в Лиге Европы](https://www.ua-football.com/foreign/europa_league/1789676790-sudakov-otreagiroval-na-pobedu-benfiki-nad-milanom-v-lige-evropy.html) - Контекстный источник: подтверждает текущее участие Судакова в составе «Бенфики»

## FAQ

### What was the score in the Benfica vs. Gil Vicente match?

Benfica won 4-1 in the Portuguese League Cup quarter-finals. Georgiy Sudakov scored his team's second goal with a spectacular long-range strike.

### What role does Sudakov play in Benfica's tactics according to Silva?

In possession, his function as a classic central midfielder does not depend on the flank. In defense, he drops deeper to help the holding midfielder as the team shifts to a 4-4-2 formation.

### What aspects of Sudakov's game need refinement?

Marco Silva pointed to the need to improve interaction within the middle block, teammate cover, and flank coverage during the defensive phase when necessary.

### What are Sudakov's stats this season and Benfica's upcoming matches?

In the 2025/26 season, Sudakov has 18 matches, 2 goals, and 1 assist. In the League Cup semi-finals, Benfica will play Porto, preceded by a Portuguese league match against Alverca.