Why Is Trubin Not Playing for Benfica? Two Possible Explanations

In Benfica's latest match, Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was left on the bench, sparking rumors and speculation. Some believe his absence was a form of punishment for his performance in the Champions League draw against Monaco (3-3), where he was blamed for conceding two goals.

However, Benfica head coach Bruno Lage strongly denied these claims in an interview with the club's media department. He explained Trubin's absence as follows:

"This decision was made to give Samuel Soares some playing time and to allow Trubin, who has been doing fantastic work, a chance to rest. He needs to recover from a series of consecutive matches and prepare for our upcoming Portuguese Cup game."

Yet, there's another version circulating in the media. Renowned journalist António Bernardino has suggested that Lage is frustrated with Trubin's inconsistency and has given Soares the opportunity to prove he is ready to step up and take over as the club's number one goalkeeper.