Benfica’s training ground turned into a wake-up call after a tough 3-1 loss to Braga in the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals.
Rather than giving his squad time to rest and recover, head coach Jose Mourinho made the unusual decision to keep the players at the Seixal facility to reflect on the defeat.
The loss was a bitter one for Benfica, who finished the match with 10 men following the sending off of veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, the former Manchester City centre-back.
With the defeat, Benfica’s hopes of reaching the League Cup final were dashed, continuing a frustrating streak under Mourinho’s leadership.
No Breaks, Only Reflection
Speaking at his post-match news conference, Mourinho explained that the squad would remain at the training base for the coming days.
Even with no weekend match scheduled, training sessions would go ahead to ensure the players had no chance to dwell on distractions.
“The players will sleep in Seixal, and on Thursday there is training, and the day after there’s training,” Mourinho said.
“Since there’s no final on Saturday, our next game is against Porto next Wednesday.”
Mourinho Wants Players Thinking, Not Sleeping
The manager’s unusual approach didn’t stop at keeping the squad at the training ground.
Mourinho made it clear that he wanted the players’ minds focused on their performance.
“When we arrive in Seixal, everyone will go to their rooms. I hope the players sleep as well as I do, which is to say that they don’t sleep at all,” he quipped.
“That they don’t sleep and instead think a lot, like I’m going to think.”
The comments highlight Mourinho’s intense approach, aiming to turn a disappointing result into a moment of reflection and improvement before Benfica face league rivals Porto.
A Return to Familiar Grounds
Mourinho’s current spell at Benfica began in September, marking his first season in charge of the Lisbon side.
The League Cup exit comes at a tricky time, just days ahead of the highly anticipated clash with Porto.
This isn’t Mourinho’s first experience with Benfica; he started his managerial career at the club back in 2000.
However, his initial stint lasted only 10 matches due to a dispute with the club president.
Now, more than two decades later, he’s back with a familiar mission: to bring Benfica back to domestic glory.
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