Jose Mourinho claims that five of his Benfica players were suffering a “self-esteem crisis” ahead of a crunch clash with Porto, leading to the ‘Special One’ adopting a pragmatic mindset against his former employers. Mourinho makes no apologies for setting his side up to frustrate table-topping opposition, with an important point being taken from an uneventful goalless draw.
Man-management skills: Special One put to the test
That stalemate could prove crucial in the long run, with Benfica ensuring that they did not lose any ground on Porto – who are currently perched four points above them at the Liga summit. Mourinho has returned to familiar surroundings in a bid to restore domestic dominance at Estadio da Luz.
His glittering coaching career started in Lisbon, before going on to make his name as a Champions League winner with Porto. Mourinho has mastered the art of grinding out results and delivering tangible success, with major honours having been won in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. At 62 years of age, he still prides himself on being one of the best tactical brains in the business.
Mourinho got what he was looking for from a trip to Estadio do Dragao, with all of his man-management skills required when it came to setting up a team that was ready to battle bravely against Porto. Benfica ultimately fared admirably in that task as they headed home with a clean sheet and share of the spoils.
AdvertisementGettyMourinho tactics: Benfica set up to frustrate rivals
Mourinho told reporters of his approach: “I think Benfica has its characteristics. FC Porto has players with a lot of horsepower, with the ability to attack space. We don't have that type of player. We had to create danger and not let the game go. Right now, the team is suffering from low confidence. I found three, four, five players with a self-esteem crisis. It's one thing to need tactical concentration, another to need inspiration for something more. I told the players that on the bench I felt what they felt on the field: we want to win, but we can't lose.
“When you're in a game with this kind of pressure on you, it's not easy to manage, think, and make decisions. FC Porto didn't have that pressure, and yet they didn't take any risks. They changed player by player and could only go from four to seven positive points, while we could go from four to seven negative points compared to FC Porto. This is a huge handicap from an emotional standpoint.
“As a coach, I fulfilled – if I'm not mistaken, I fulfilled the official 1,200th game, and even a coach with 1,200 games is analysing and thinking that if you lose, you're going home with a seven-point gap. It was a limitation. We couldn't leave here with seven points. It's not the result we wanted, but it's a good situation. It's just a shame I won't see the players for 15 days.”
Friend to foe: Porto fans now want Mourinho to fail
Mourinho took in 127 games as Porto boss between January 2002 and June 2004, becoming a club legend in the process. He is now a direct rival for fans that once adored him and accepts that he has morphed from friend to foe in the eyes of those that now want him to fail – and will happily make him aware of that fact.
He added on not receiving the warmest of receptions when returning to familiar surroundings: “History doesn't change, my gratitude to FC Porto doesn't change. I had a completely relaxed game, focused on my work, on helping my team. I'd already played here against Chelsea, so I can't say I had any special feelings. What the President [André Villas-Boas] said before the game is normal. How should I be received? As a Benfica coach. After the game, I ran into him in the hallway as friends, a hug, and life goes on.”
GettyAnother return to England: Next up for Mourinho
With another international break being reached, as Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team turn their attention to 2026 World Cup qualifying duty, Benfica will not be in action again until facing Chaves in a cup clash on October 17. Mourinho, who has already returned to Chelsea this season, will then head back to England again for a Champions League meeting with Newcastle at St James’ Park.
