Benfica ultras confront manager Jose Mourinho over poor results
Approximately 200 Benfica ultras descended upon the club’s training facility in Seixal on Saturday morning, forcing a confrontation with manager Jose Mourinho, technical director Simao Sabrosa, and captain Nicolas Otamendi, reports BritPanorama.
The supporters, frustrated by a disappointing run of results, demanded explanations from the trio regarding the team’s recent performances. Benfica, despite remaining undefeated in the Primeira Liga, finds itself 10 points behind league leaders Porto after 18 fixtures.
According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, the group successfully gained access to the premises and met with Mourinho, Sabrosa, and Otamendi. The Argentine World Cup winner Otamendi, who has made over 150 appearances since joining Benfica in 2020, faced scrutiny from the disgruntled fanbase.
Initially, only four members of the ultra group were granted entry to the training ground, but they insisted that the remaining supporters join them. Police were dispatched to maintain order and ultimately allowed the fans access after assurances were provided that the demonstration would remain peaceful and no damage would occur to club property.
The meeting occurred on one of the training pitches at the Seixal complex, with the ultras departing roughly an hour after their arrival. The nature of the discussions between the fans and club figures has not been disclosed.
This protest arises amid growing discontent with Benfica’s league position, compounded by disappointing draws against lower-tier teams such as Santa Clara, Rio Ave, and Casa Pia. These results have allowed rivals to pull further ahead, despite Benfica’s unbeaten league status.
Cup competitions have also brought disappointment; Porto eliminated Benfica in the quarter-finals of the Taca de Portugal, and a Champions League defeat to Juventus has heightened the sense of crisis surrounding the club.
In light of the tense atmosphere, players continued to engage with supporters following training. Notably, 23-year-old defender Sidny Lopes Cabral and Ukrainian midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov both took time to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans.
Mourinho’s tenure at Benfica commenced last September, when he signed a contract lasting until the summer of 2027, following the dismissal of Bruno Lage. This return marks a full-circle moment for the Portuguese manager, who began his managerial career at the club in 2000 before leaving after just ten matches due to a disagreement with the president.
With pressure mounting ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid—an essential match for preserving hopes of reaching the knockout stage—the spotlight remains firmly on Mourinho. Rumours are already emerging, linking former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim with the Benfica job amid Mourinho’s ongoing struggles.
In football, crises can unfold rapidly, and as Benfica’s fortunes flicker between potential and peril, the weight of expectation remains heavy. How this chapter unfolds may well define Mourinho’s legacy, a poignant reminder of the thin line separating success from disappointment.
