Portuguese Abroad shorts: Manuel Fernandes helps Lokomotiv to Russian Cup; Bernardo Silva, Vitorino Antunes celebrated; Mário Rui in Milan talks; Clean sweep for Portuguese coaches in Asian Champions League

The trophies and individual awards continue to pile up for Portuguese footballers across Europe as the honours are handed out in various competitions across the continent. Latest recipients include Manuel Fernandes and his Lokomotiv Moscow side, who won the Russian Cup on Wednesday evening, while there was individual recognition for Vitorino Antunes and Bernardo Silva in Spain and England respectively.

Meanwhile, Portugal boasts no fewer than five managers in the Asian Champions League, with all successfully making their way through to the knockout stage after the last matchday of the group phase. As transfer rumours continue to gather pace, Mário Rui is reportedly in talks to make the move from Napoli to AC Milan in Italy.

Russia’s showpiece occasion took place on Wednesday evening at the Samara Arena, with Lokomotiv Moscow facing Ural in a repeat of the 2017 final. Favourites Lokomotiv Moscow were dethroned as Russian Premier League champions this season by Zenit St Petersburg, while Ural 11th place arrived as underdogs for the meeting.

The match was settled by Dimitri Barinov’s 27th minute header for Lokomotiv, who clinched a 10th Russian Cup. Manuel Fernandes played the full 90 minutes and the former Benfica man’s set-piece deliveries were to prove vital in deciding the outcome. Fernandes had already caused problems for Ural with an early in-swinging corner before another delivery was nodded home by Barinov for the crucial only goal of the evening.

For Fernandes, who has been in Russia for almost five years, it is the third Russian Cup of his tenure with Lokomotiv. The 33-year-old has won the domestic cup competition in four different countries, having claimed winners’ medals in Portugal (Benfica), Spain (Valencia) and Turkey (Besiktas) before arriving in Moscow.

The Portuguese midfielder took to the field having not played for a month, but experienced Lokomotiv coach Yury Semin was rewarded for his faith in Fernandes. “He prepared himself well and he wanted to play in the final. Manuel brought great benefits,” said the 72-year-old coach. Fellow Portuguese Eder, who has not scored for the club since October, was named on the substitutes bench but did not feature for the victors.

Elsewhere, there was an upset in the Cypriot Cup final, with AEL Limassol beating perennial champions APOEL 2-0 in Nicosia on Wednesday. AEL were without injured Leandro Silva for the victory, but former Belenenses defender André Teixeira played the final. APOEL had Nuno Morais in the starting line-up and introduced André Vidigal as a second-half substitute.

 

Bernardo wins City award

The rewards keep coming for Bernardo Silva, with the Portugal midfielder named Manchester City’s Player of the Season earlier this week. The former Benfica man was presented with the prize during City’s trophy parade on Monday, at which which they celebrated winning a domestic treble in England of FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League.

Bernardo contributed 14 goals from 59 appearances for City during the campaign and won 48% of the votes when club conducted their annual poll. "Thank you very much everyone," said the Seleção man. "The way you pushed us this season. You made it real for us. Without them, it wouldn't be possible. Thanks a lot. Next season, we'll come back, trying to give you more titles.

"Hopefully, we want to do better, try and go for European trophies as well - it's what we're missing. The supporters need to demand more from us. European trophies - we need that. Let’s go for it."

 

Antunes gets recognition in Spain

Getafe have been the surprise package in La Liga and experienced Portuguese left-back Vitorino Antunes is one of the Azulones players earning plaudits at the end of the season. The Madrid-based club lost out on a Champions League place on the final day of the season but a 5th place finish represents the highest finish in Getafe’s history.

Tenacious full-back Antunes played a key role for the team until his season was cut short by a serious ligament injury which is expected to keep him out until October. The 32-year-old featured in 28 of Getafe’s 32 matches before his injury and his quality at both ends of the field made Antunes a key man for Jose Bordalas’ side.

Spanish sports data company Dribla B, which works with many top-flight clubs, named their La Liga Team of the Season on Tuesday and Antunes was installed at left-back. The former Paços de Ferreira, Roma, Lecce, Malaga and Dinamo Kiev man was joined in the team by the likes of Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema.

 

Mário Rui headed to Milan?

Napoli full-back Mário Rui has found regular first team football hard to come by in recent months in Serie A, leading to speculation that the Portuguese has plans to move clubs during the summer. The former Sporting and Benfica defender scored a sensational late winner on his last appearance for Napoli earlier this month, but just 17 starts in the league this season has left Mário Rui keen to explore other options.

Reports in Italy suggest the player’s agent has been in discussions with the AC Milan for some weeks, although the Rossoneri are considering a number of full-backs as part of their summer recruitment plans. Mário Rui joined Napoli in 2017 and has helped the club to consecutive runners-up finishes behind Juventus in Serie A.

 

Clean sweep for Portuguese coaches in ACL

The Asian Champions League group phase concluded this week, with the last 16 teams for the knockout stage decided. There was a 100% success rate for the five Portuguese managers involved in the competition, with Vítor Pereira, José Morais, Jesualdo Ferreira, Rui Faria and Rui Vitória all booking their places for the business end of the tournament.

Morais led the way into the knockouts by dominating Group G in impressive fashion with South Korean champions Jeonbuk Motors, finishing above Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and current Chinese league leaders Beijing Guoan. Jesualdo Ferreira also topped his section, winning Group D with a match to spare despite scoring just 7 goals in their 6 matches.

Rui Faria, who arrived at Qatar’s Al Duhail in January, saw his new team through in second place in Group C, beating Iran’s Esteghlal to the runners-up spot behind Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Vítor Pereira is expected to reach the latter stages with Shanghai SIPG, and the Chinese champions hammered Group H winners Ulsan 5-0 to book their place in the next round. Rui Vitória’s newly-crowned Saudi champions Al-Nassr were already qualified from Group A behind Zob Ahan, before their final group match with the Iranians was postponed.

By Sean Gillen