As Rafa Benitez takes charge at Benfica, the Portuguese giants look set to embark on a new chapter in their history under his tutelage. Under the former Liverpool manager, Benfica have already made a strong start to life under his stewardship with wins over Vitória de Guimarães and S.L. Benfica II.

One of the key areas where Benitez will be looking to improve is the team's defensive capabilities. With the departure of veteran center-back João Félix to Real Madrid, the club will need to find a replacement that can provide the same level of leadership and experience that he brought to the side.

In this article, we take a closer look at Rafa's wing defense strategy and how it could help Benfica achieve success this season.

First up, Rafa's approach to wing play has been to utilise a high press and counter-attack style of play. This means that players like Nuno Mendes and Joao Mario will be given freedom to roam around the pitch, creating space for themselves and teammates behind them.

This strategy has proven successful in the past, with Rafa's teams often playing out from the back and winning possession through quick transitions. However, as we all know, there are always risks involved when relying too heavily on one aspect of your game.

That being said, Benfica's wing play looks set to be a key strength of the team under Rafa's guidance. With the likes of Nuno Mendes and Joao Mario providing pace and creativity down the flanks, they should be able to cause problems for opposing defences.

Another area where Rafa's wing defense strategy may come into play is in terms of ball retention. As we've seen in previous seasons, Benfica have struggled to retain possession and keep the ball in midfield, which has led to numerous turnovers and goals against.

However, by utilising a high press and counter-attacking style of play, Rafa's team should be better equipped to retain possession and control the tempo of the match. By doing so, they'll be able to create more opportunities for their forwards to score goals and ultimately secure victories.

Overall, Rafa's wing defense strategy looks set to be a key factor in Benfica's success this season. With the right players in place and a clear plan in place, the club should be well placed to challenge for honours in both domestic and European competitions.