There are a lot of different arguments going around if this was a positive or negative season for Benfica. In as much as Benfica didn´t win any titles this year I would have to say it was a negative season.

But was it really?

Benfica made the most points this season in 13 years! We haven´t made these many points in a season since Toni was coach and won the League Championship in 1993/94. Benfica only had 3 losses, allowed only 20 goals and had 55 goals scored. These are the best marks in many years. And in many of the past seasons we would have been Champions with these kind of marks. Benfica wasn´t bad, the others were just better. Benfica also had a decent showing in the EUFA Cup, where we were eliminated (like everyone saw) by the team that actually went to the finals and did not loose one EUFA Cup game (actually Espanhol didn´t loose a EUFA game but didn´t win the Cup, how about that!) .
Actually it was this strong showing in the EUFA Cup that probably caused Benfica to loose the Portugal League back in April. Benfica has a pretty good starting 11 but no bench, and when the games started rolling in in April the team was clearly tired and triped up (most notably in Aveiro against Beira-Mar).

Benfica should have strengthened the team when the transfer season opened up in January, but at the time Porto was somewhat ahead (I believe by 9 points), and Benfica management did not have money to invest. Actually Benfica sold Ricardo Rocha in December, and picked up a defender that no one had ever heard about and never played a professional game in his career (but David Luiz actually revealed himself a great player and a very promising prospect). At the same time Benfica also lost Nuno Assis due to (allegedly) doping.

All this said, and considering Benfica has some spending money right now due to a bond offering earlier this month, Benfica should have a considerably stronger squad next year. Benfica´s management has just said that they will not sell key players unless receive irrefutable offers.

Hopefully Benfica will solve the José Veiga “issue” (I personally have my doubts about him, but he has done a good job with the resources he has had at his disposal), so that next season be planned early and carefully to ensure success.