ANTONIO SILVA TACTICAL ANALYSIS⭐️
A detailed deep dive on the Benfica CB and why he is a top target for Manchester United✍️
A detailed deep dive on the Benfica CB and why he is a top target for Manchester United✍️
Silva signed for Benfica in 2016 from his local youth side Viseu United. Silva played through the youth ranks before making his debut with the Benfica B in April 2022. He was sensational, helping the club to win the UEFA youth League for the first time in over 60 years
He was rewarded for his performances by Roger Schmidt, the new Benfica manager who gave him his debut in August 2022 due to an injury crisis and suspension to Nicolas Otamendi. The teenager impressed, going onto make 30 league and 10 champions league appearances that season.
Silva is an immense ball playing CB, comfortable playing on the left side but predominantly playing on the right side. Technically excellent, very secure in possession but not just a safe passer but a fine progressor too. He has a wide passing range, short-long, switches & line breakers
The defender ranks in the top 3% for long pass completion with Silva completing 74% of the long passes he attempts, averaging 4.75 p90. He has no real angle bias, comfortable receiving on either foot and switching across his body. A really good asset for moving defensive blocks
One of SIlva's most utilised traits is a long pass over the top of a high press, usually drops slightly deeper to receive possession with the RW/CF dropping deeper too to pull a opponent out of the last line. Silva has a ferocious whipped pass over the top, gaining territory
However when pressed Silva has the composure to invite pressure, carry past players and into central areas where he utilises his agility and quick turning to create more favourable passing angles. Never rushed, always calm and makes very good decisions
Under pressure is where he is a cut above the rest of the young crop of CB's in my opinion, purely down to his mental capacity. The pass selection is excellent, his vision is top drawer and the composure under pressure to retain his decision making and weight of pass is superb
In the 23/24 Liga NOS season Silva ranks in the 85th percentile for progressive passes. As previously mentioned he is capable of playing on both sides due to his turning ability and lack of orientation issues. When facing a truly high pressing side he often plays these dinked passes but against a mid block prefers a punched pass through the initial press
The general debate is the difference in progressiveness with Ousmane Diomande, the Sporting Lisbon CB. However, it is important to note the difference in roles. DIomande being a WCB in a 3 under Amorim, a coach who places huge progression responsibility on his WCB to break the lines into the half spaces. Whereas SIlva ina two, has more responsibility to utilise the midfield pivot, playing round the press via shorter passing and relationships
Playing in a two the license to carry is not always there but he is still a very fine carrier, averaging 1.07 carries p90 putting him in the top 20%. Interestingly, he ranks in the top 6% for progressive carrying distance, breaking lines with his elegant footwork, close control & balance
His carrying ability is a very useful tool when operating as a RCB in build up. Teams can often try to shuffle possession into one side of the pitch, closing down the passing angles to go man to man. Essentially, this forces Silva into carrying through pressure
Silva is a bit of a throwback defender. He is aggressive in his tackling but still maintains good decision making as when to be more aggressive or when to step out. His reach is good, long legs with good agility. His defensive ability is reliant on his actual ability
What I mean by that is he doesn't have the immense pace of a William Saliba, although he is not exactly a slouch himself. Nor does he have the physicality of a Virgil Van Dijk. What Silva does have however is the intelligence in his positioning, strong defensive instincts, excellent timing of his tackle and again his decision making is so strong
His maturity is another mental point that sets him apart from other CBs, has the awareness here to drop off to follow the runners but also leave the decision in the hands of the attacker. He drops until the heavy touch before springing out to win the ball. All about timing/ tackle quality
The qualities that allow him to be evasive in possession such as agility, a small turning circle and balance also provide huge benefits in his ability to defend wide areas. He likes to get tight to the attacker, engage contact to try alter the balance of the attacker. Tries to avoid going to ground but can do a very high standard when necessary
Silva has shown huge qualities in a Libeiro role, often allowing his CB partner to step up out of the defensive line and be the aggressor with Silva sweeping in behind. He ranks in the top 12% for ball recoveries, also having the discipline and positioning to play that role
However he can also be the CCB, the leader of the back line. He has the courage out of possession to push the line higher, to engage with attackers high up the pitch in areas where most defenders don't particularly want to go. He has the ability to play in a 2 or 3, offers huge tactical advantages
At Manchester United a line that is consistently thrown at the team is that it seriously lacks leaders, that is another attribute Antonio Silva provides. Already captaining Benfica as a teenager, he has top character, a strong mentality and a genuine tough personality
Per Wyscout Silva is 6 ft 2, aerially he has also improved this season too. I think to really excel in the PL he will need to add a little more weight, just to help adjust to the battling required against the majority of CF's. At 19, he is still physically developing so has time
The one true issue I have with Silva is something that is out of his control, his price. With a release clause of £86m it is a huge sum for United who without UCL football and tightening FFP restrictions may not be able to afford that. It places huge pressure on the player whilst also increasing overall pressure on the team
So Silva is elite in possession in his carrying and passing range, whilst also being an excellent tackler, good in transition defending and wide areas. Mentally, the best CB on the market however I think with a little extra maturity and experience his one area to improve in box defending will do so
End of Thread
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