Benfica's Instagram page posted a video of the internal meeting before the match at CD Aves stadium on 20/9.
Mourinho entered the locker room and spoke briefly but forcefully, "Winning at Benfica is beautiful, playing at Benfica is very difficult. Losing at Benfica is extremely difficult. But winning at Benfica is wonderful. We've talked enough, now it's time to go out and win.".
The "Special One" then high-fived and encouraged each player. Captain Nicolas Otamendi added, "The only things that matter at this club are three points and trophies. One for all, all for Benfica.".
Following Mourinho's inspiring speech, Benfica played brilliantly. The visitors dominated, controlling 64% of the possession and taking 19 shots with 6 on target, compared to AVS's 8 shots with 1 on target. They scored three goals courtesy of Heorhiy Sudakov, Vangelis Pavlidis, and Franjo Ivanovic.
This result gave Mourinho a resounding start and immediately improved the team's atmosphere. "I told the players to go out with a winning attitude," the Portuguese coach said after the match. "In the second half, the confidence went up and I just had to unleash them. But I also told them straight: it's good, but nothing extraordinary yet.".
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Coach Jose Mourinho smiles on the sidelines before Benfica's 3-0 win over AVS in round five of the Portuguese Championship on 20/9. Photo: Imago |
Coach Jose Mourinho smiles on the sidelines before Benfica's 3-0 win over AVS in round five of the Portuguese Championship on 20/9. Photo: Imago
Mourinho not only inspired the team but also immediately made his tactical mark. The 62-year-old coach dropped Andreas Schjelderup to give Franjo Ivanovic a chance to partner with Vangelis Pavlidis, and both scored. Mourinho also changed the team's routine: opening part of a training session to the media before the match and moving the press conference time to 3 PM – 90 minutes earlier than the usual schedule.
Mourinho was chosen to replace Bruno Lage, who was sacked just one day after the 2-3 loss to Qarabag in the first leg of the Champions League. The "Special One" signed a contract until the end of the 2026-2027 season and had only two training sessions to familiarize himself with the entire team before the AVS match.
In his introductory press conference, Mourinho angered Porto fans by calling Benfica the "biggest motivation" in his coaching career. Mourinho rose to prominence after leading Porto to the 2004 Champions League, the UEFA Cup, and two Portuguese league titles. Porto is also Benfica's biggest rival in Portugal.
"I didn't come to Benfica to anger Porto," Mourinho tried to appease. "I came to enjoy the opportunity to coach a club with ambitions to win. If anyone asks me if Porto is a big club, I'll say yes. If they ask me if I have special feelings for Porto, I'll also say yes.".
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Coach Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto in 2004. Photo: UEFA |
Coach Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto in 2004. Photo: UEFA
But Mourinho admitted he would be booed when he takes Benfica to Porto's Dragao stadium on 5/19. "I once took Chelsea to Dragao and wasn't welcomed. This time even less so, because I'm leading Benfica," the Portuguese coach said. "But that's life. Porto is an important part of my history, as I am in Porto's history. Porto wants to win, Benfica also wants to win, that's all.".
Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail, ESPN)
