Article by Daniel Scorpie – published on Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:50 / Updated on Saturday, June 21, 2025 10:51
The match in the second stage of the groups from the World Club Championship had all last night. If the first half ended with a nervous crisis of a Chinese player from Auckland City, after a two -hour break caused by the bad weather they jumped into the camp of Benfica, coach Bruno Lage having a conflict with a Turkish midfielder.
At Orlando he was even a thriller at the tournament that takes place from June 14 in the United States! The longest of the competition lasted four hours with extensions, the break between the halves and the two -hour, the longest at the club world,
If before the break, in the extensions, the Chinese Extreme Tong Zhou came out of their minds and wanted to get out of the field to receive medical care, getting to the coach and being hardly calmed by those from Auckland City, Even in the second half there was no peace in the grass.
Orkan Kokcu did not shake hands with Bruno lage to change!
Although the match played in Florida, in Orlando, was at the discretion of the Portuguese team, there were also nerves in the winning camp (6-0).
Bruno Lage had the unpleasant surprise that one of the students he took in the second side to challenge and then provoke a scandal on the reserve bench!
In the 61st minute, at the score of 2-0, the “Vultures” coach decided to remove Orkun Kokcu and to introduce Renato Sanches, who would score the third goal.
The Turkish midfielder was not “digested” at all the choice of Lage and refused to extend his hand to the moment they intersected on the edge of the land.
Visibly upset, the Turkish international sat angrily on the bench in the stand. After Benfica scored, Bruno Lage turned to the bank, satisfied that the player had just introduced him to the table, and said a few words to Kökcü, holding his hand.
The conflict between Turkish Orkun Kökcü and coach Bruno Lage at the match Benfica – Auckland City 6-0 from the Club World Cup / Photo: Dazn
The coach was angry when he praised that he had inspired
Apparently, the coach wanted to boast that he was very inspired. The reaction was more annoyed on Kokcu. The Turk rises angrily and jumped to quarrel with Lage.
With his high index finger, he screamed at the technician. For his part, Bruno Lage put his finger in his mouth, to indicate to Kokcu not to comment!
The Turkish midfielder then left to leave the bench, but was stopped by his compatriot, Kerem Akturkoglu. Bruno Lage tried to minimize the conflict after the final whistle:
“Orkun Kökçü wanted a lot to score but I decided that Renato Sanches to enter his place. Regardless of the shape of the players, I want. In the last match, we started with Renatoand Kökçü entered the course and helped us. Today was the reverse situation. ”
Bruno Lage, coach Benficăi, explained to the reporter how things were in conflict with Orkan Kokcu / Photo: Dazn
“Orkun Kokcu is always a professional. I want to help the team”
When asked if the midfielder should bear the consequences of his attitudes, the benfica trainer explained: “I saw the behavior of a professional. It was a unique experience. He has always had a very good attic both on the ground and outside.
Has the desire to help the team. I make the decisions to make, no matter who it is. I have shown this many times. I look at the player's situation during the match and make the decisions calmly. “
Bruno Lage made an indirect reference to the fact that the Benfica's decar is not at the first disciplinary offense. The Turk is a recidivist, with a conflict with Roger Schmidt, his predecessor the current technician of the Lusitan team.
