Romelu Lukaku consoled Mile Svilar after the final whistle
Benfica handed a Champions League debut to 18-year-old goalkeeper Mile Svilar last night against Manchester United but it was a performance to forget for the youngster.
The Portuguese side were drawing 0-0 with the Red Devils until Svilar misjudged a Marcus Rashford free-kick and handled it over the line.
The 1-0 defeat left Benfica rock bottom of Group A with zero points and the teenager was visibly disappointed, being consoled by the United players after the final whistle.
Romelu Lukaku seemed to take Svilar under his wing and the keeper has revealed he gave him some kind words of encouragement.
BT
Mile Svilar brought Marcus Rashford's free-kick down over the line
Romelu Lukaku consoles Benfica's goalkeeper at full-time
“Yeah, it was nice,” Svilar said after the game.
“He just said that I don’t have to worry, continue to work and it will be okay.”
Svilar became the youngest keeper to play in the Champions League last night and despite his mistake, Jose Mourinho rates the teenager highly.
“I knew how good he was and I told the players how good he was [before the match],” Mourinho said.
“We had a little bit of a strategy, especially on set-pieces, to try to make him uncomfortable so in corners we put lots of players close to him to make him less confident about coming out.
“In free-kicks we knew he risks a lot – only top keepers take risks like he does. The kid was unlucky.
"I think that he deserved a little bit more. He is a phenomenon, amazing. Only great keepers concede goals like these.
"He's a goalkeeper with huge potential.
“Benfica had better prepare a big suitcase, because someone will pay a lot of money for him in a few years.”
The Belgium Under-19 international is under contract with Benfica until June 2022 and has made two appearances in all competitions this term.
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