Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said on Thursday that they want to “help a lot” Colombian midfielder Richard Rios so that fans can see “what a good player he is”, as he has not yet performed as expected.

“I see reasons to help him a lot, to try to get the best out of him, to not ask him for things that will cost him," said Mourinho in the press conference prior to this Friday's match against Gil Vicente in the Portuguese League.

“I see reasons to analyze him a lot, to be very close to him, to protect him as much as possible," he added, "and at the same time try to show him what is good in him and hide what is not so good."

Rios, 25, arrived at Benfica this season in one of the Portuguese club's most expensive signings - which paid around $31.5 million to Brazilian side Palmeiras - but has not yet managed to show his best version in Lisbon.

Referring to Rios' price, the incarnate coach said that “when a player goes out onto the pitch, he always has a sticker on his back with the millions that have been paid for his transfer,” so he does not. intend to “create more pressure” on the Colombian international.

On the contrary, “I am going to create situations so that he can appear and play better and raise their confidence levels," he stressed.

After drawing 1-1 against Rio Ave in a postponed match on Tuesday, Benfica returns to its Estadio da Luz this Friday to face Gil Vicente in the seventh round of the Portuguese League, a match in which, according to Mourinho, Rios will start.

*With information from EFE.