Benfica head coach José Mourinho attended the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Gil Vicente.
Lopes Cabral asked Vinicius for his shirt after the match against Real Madrid. What was it like to watch the game from the sidelines?
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with exchanging shirts, but it could have been avoided. I think it’s normal for players to swap shirts in key career matches, especially with someone they admire and who is an exceptional player—but I still think this situation could have been avoided.As for not being able to coach from the touchline, it’s frustrating, but I knew my team was fully prepared. I watched the game from the team bus using technology and four screens. What I missed was the thrill of being there.”
On missing the press conference and the future
“I didn’t attend the press conference because it’s a principle I stand by. You’re banned from being with the team. João Tralhão is a coach just like me. Everything he says could be my own words. Just like his editor trusts him to send him here, that’s my principle, and everyone knows it—my position remains the same even when suspended.As for the future? You’ll have to ask President Rui Costa. That clause was only created to make it easy to sideline me. Back then, I called it an ethical clause and a clause of respect for candidates; now it’s a convenient clause. As for the league table, there’s the real one and the virtual one—and if we look at what’s happened, we know the real table would look very different.”
Do you want to stay at Benfica next season? Is managing the team your only focus right now?
“There’s only one thing I can control: my will and my emotions. You’re all excellent professionals, but you get things wrong sometimes. You said the Real Madrid game was my chance to come back—and you were wrong.I said I could turn down Florentino Pérez. Do you think I’m stupid? I’ve made it clear I want to stay. But I only want to compete in one league, not two.Right now we’re playing in two leagues: the real one and a virtual one. I only want one. I’ll stay only if things are fair and just.”
On Sudakov’s injury and Benfica’s issues
“I’ll answer your question in a moment, but first I’ll say I usually anticipate your questions, and I did today—because I knew you’d bring up this global storm. I state clearly: I am against all forms of discrimination, prejudice and ignorance.
I also advise everyone to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I believe criticism says far more about the critic than the person being criticized. On this matter, I want to emphasize that this team was first humiliated at home by Qarabağ, then eliminated by Real Madrid in this manner.
As for the details: Sudakov got injured against Real Madrid, and he only went to play in that game because we had more bench spots in the Champions League. Lukas Nmecha wasn’t injured, but he didn’t play either—our tests showed he could only feature in the final 10 minutes, when we needed goals, and we had extra time to worry about. Sometimes people act without understanding the reasons behind things.
As for Ivanović, I wanted pace and presence inside the box. I could reveal more details, but Benfica don’t pay me to explain this.”
On the Prestianni-Vinicius incident and Real Madrid
“I love Arbeloa, and I always will, but I believe my position is correct. I said I don’t want to take sides or attack anyone. I said I don’t want to wear Real Madrid’s white shirt or Benfica’s red shirt in what could be a very serious situation.
So I repeat: read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I am against all discrimination or prejudice. And I tell you this: if it is proven that my player disrespected these principles—principles that belong to me and to Benfica—then his career under coach Mourinho and at Benfica is over.
I’m not a scholar, but I’m far from ignorant. Is the presumption of innocence not a human right? Unfortunately, UEFA dug up some obscure ‘Article 426.328’ from nowhere just to ban this player—and acted immediately, with no room for ‘ifs’.I stand by my view: if this player is truly guilty, I will never see him the same way, and he’s finished with me. But I have to add a lot of ‘ifs’ before making that judgment.”
