Jose Mourinho orders Benfica squad to stay overnight at training facility
Jose Mourinho has instructed his Benfica squad to spend the night at the club’s training facility in Seixal following their disappointing 3-1 defeat to Braga in Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final, reports BritPanorama.
The Portuguese tactician has expressed his desire for the players to endure restless hours contemplating the loss. “I hope the players sleep as well as I do, which is to say that they don’t sleep at all,” Mourinho declared in his post-match press conference. “That’s what I wish for them. That they don’t sleep and instead think a lot, like I’m going to think.”
The squad had initially planned to stay at Seixal ahead of Saturday’s final, which they will now miss. Mourinho noted that his dressing room address immediately after the match was entirely one-sided, an approach he finds ineffective. “Tomorrow we can start talking, which isn’t what happened in the locker room,” he explained. “In the locker room it was a monologue, and monologues don’t work for me; I like to have a dialogue with the players.”
The former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham boss indicated that Thursday’s training session would provide the opportunity for a proper two-way discussion. He intends to analyse the stark differences between Benfica’s performances in each half and prepare his side thoroughly for their upcoming fixture against Porto.
Wednesday’s setback marked an abrupt end to an impressive 11-match unbeaten streak that Benfica had enjoyed under Mourinho, who signed a contract until 2027 in September. Under his management, the team has secured 14 victories from 23 matches.
Defender Nicolas Otamendi received a red card during the match, leaving Benfica to finish with ten men. Braga’s triumph is particularly notable as they trail Benfica by a substantial 12 points in the Primeira Liga standings. The visitors travelled to Lisbon and delivered a thoroughly unexpected result.
Benfica must now swiftly refocus on next Wednesday’s Portuguese Cup quarter-final, which sees them face Porto. Currently, Benfica occupies third position in the Primeira Liga, sitting ten points back from leaders Sporting. Moreover, they face a challenging path towards Champions League knockout qualification, with upcoming fixtures against Juventus and Real Madrid.
As Benfica grapples with this latest disappointment, the challenge ahead will test not only their resolve but also Mourinho’s ability to rally a squad facing mounting pressure in the wake of such unexpected setbacks.
