All José Mourinho and Lukebakio said ahead of Chelsea v Benfica 👀 | OneFootball

José Mourinho and Dodi Lukebakio spoke with journalists, at the pre-match press conference ahead of the second round of the Champions League group stage, between Benfica and Chelsea. Read below everything the two Benfica representatives said before the match against the Blues.

José Mourinho’s press conference:

Important Champions League match between two teams looking for their best form. Could the first few minutes be crucial?

"Much more than just the first few minutes, I expect two teams that want to win. Obviously, I don’t believe Chelsea will play for anything else. They’re at home, they lost the first match, and we, due to club culture and also the identity I want to gradually instill in the team, there won’t be any stadium or opponent that makes us think otherwise. Do we have to defend well? Obviously. But the goal is to try to win. Chelsea lost in Munich with a much easier schedule than ours. The points we dropped were, initially, points we thought we’d collect. Now we have to go hunting for points in the seven games ahead. Is this match at Stamford Bridge harder, or is it Real Madrid at Luz or Newcastle away? I can’t say. Tomorrow, we have to go for the points."

What do you value most about this return ‘home’? What steps does Benfica need to take to reach the highest European level?

"Having European stature doesn’t mean thinking about winning the competition right away, we’re so far from that. Especially because it’s just started. Thinking about it does us harm. We’re at a stage where every point is fundamental. In a format where we all have little experience. Last year I played in the Europa League and I know the format, but it’s a bit strange. It’s a ranking with so many teams you don’t play against. Every point is fundamental and I don’t think anyone will blame me if I say that, looking at the schedule, the 3 points against Qarabag would have been the foundation. We’re in a more complicated situation because of that, but we go into every match intending to get them. Yes, I’m at home, but I’ve played here with Tottenham, Man United, Inter... And for 90 minutes, I didn’t think for a second where I was, who I was playing against... As they say, ‘I’m not a blue anymore.’ I’m a red and I want to win."

From what you worked on in recent days and hours, do you feel Benfica can achieve something special tomorrow?

"The work was non-work. But that work/non-work was what the players needed most. They finally had three days between matches. Since I arrived, it’s always been two days between games, and when that starts to add up, we reached the last match against Gil Vicente in great difficulty. Some players even had red lights in the data we have. Finally, we had three days of non-work. Tactical organization work for tomorrow is more passive than active. Today I would have liked to train at Seixal but it wasn’t possible for logistical reasons. And today I had two options: either the training was open, you were there and I couldn’t work tactically. The second option was 15 minutes open, without you there, but with the cameras I put there 15 years ago... I think the players are very focused on everything we talked about and analyzed. We’ll try to be at our best. Do I believe more in this work or in fieldwork? There’s no comparison, I believe much more in fieldwork. But I think we’ll have organizational principles. And I think, when that happens, we have a chance to compete in the match."

How do you feel returning to Stamford Bridge? Earlier, Pedro Neto revealed he was close to joining Benfica and praised you. Would you like to have him at your Benfica?

"Of course I would... He’s one of the best wingers in the world. Roberto, with the national team, is privileged. He has not only Pedro, but four or five similar players. Here at Benfica we don’t have as many of that profile. Of course I’d like to have him. But he’s in a completely different economic reality and it’s best to forget about it. I wish him, as always, the best, that he doesn’t have the injuries that have held him back in recent years, and that tomorrow, of course, he doesn’t have a great game. I wish him the best and thank him for his words. The feelings of arriving here weren’t so deep because I actually live here, I pass by here almost every day when I’m in London. I know myself well. I’ve played many times against former [Chelsea] teams, Benfica will be the fourth club I’ve come here with. It’s a stadium where I won’t feel any antagonism, I think. But it wouldn’t bother me either. We have different goals. I can isolate myself without a problem."

Benfica has a dark history with Chelsea, has never won and even lost a European final. José Mourinho has only won here once. Do you believe you can end this jinx tomorrow?

"I don’t think Benfica has played here that many times... If we were talking about 10 games... The European final was lost in extra time... I don’t cling to those numbers. Normally, Portuguese teams don’t have great results against the English because the English are strong. That’s the pragmatism of it. They have more intensity, more effective playing time. In Portugal there are lots of stoppages, many teams that, instead of playing, prefer the opponent not to play. Here, there’s a higher level in different parameters. But of course I believe."

If I gave you a sheet to sign right now, considering all the factors you’ve mentioned, would you sign for a 0-0?

"No... I’d go for the match. Maybe, in the 88th minute, I’d sign three times. Depends on the game. I always say a draw is great if the opponent is much better. If Chelsea dominate us, if they don’t let us play, you sign for the draw with great joy. When the match hasn’t started... And we’re not talking about a knockout, we’re playing for points. And any point helps in this format, it helps to achieve, at the very least, the second objective. Let’s play."

Do you feel that, at this point, it’s harder for a Portuguese club to be European champion than it was 20 years ago? Can Lukebakio now start two matches in a row?

"He’s going to play. He’ll start. I don’t know for how long. The other day, he played 60-something minutes. We’ll see tomorrow the intensity, what the match demands from him, and how he adapts to a different rhythm. But he’ll start, I prefer it this way than saving him for 30 minutes. We’ll put him in the game and see how it goes. The formats change. The first time I played the Champions League as Mr. Robson’s assistant, it was still a knockout format at the start, then group stage, then single-leg semifinals at the home of the group winner... That semifinal was Barcelona-FC Porto and Milan-Monaco. Then we moved to another format and now we’re in this one. When I was European champion the first time, it was that format that lasted the longest. There were times when only one team per country could play... Then it started to expand to feed more people and more important federations. I’m still learning this format. There are so many economic sharks that it’s increasingly difficult for Portuguese teams. Benfica is a giant, a giant. I compare it, historically and socially, to the biggest clubs in Europe, much bigger than clubs that are economically much stronger than Benfica. Right now, there are very powerful clubs. But we can compete with them on the pitch. And that’s why, in response to your colleague, if I’d sign for a draw, I won’t sign anything. Let’s play, compete, and try to win."

Is this a decisive week for Benfica? Will you rest players for the classic? With what happened at the General Assembly, how will you shield the dressing room?

"Ask me that question tomorrow after the match...".

If you look to the right, there’s a photo of you. To the left, too... Of the five photos in this room, three are of you. Will your heart always be a little bit blue?

"Yes, of course. I’ll always be blue. I’m part of Chelsea’s history and they’re part of mine. I helped Chelsea become a bigger club and they helped me become a bigger coach. When I said I’m not blue anymore, I think you understand. I’m talking about the job I have, what I have to do tomorrow. Not many clubs have this habit of photos. Many are afraid of what happened in the past, it seems they want to erase people. And that shows that Chelsea is a great club."

You once said that until another manager wins four Premier Leagues, you’re the best. Do you think this is a good time to face Chelsea?

"Chelsea is a winning machine that, in recent years, hasn’t managed to win trophies. Chelsea won before me, continued to win, and then there was a transformation. New teams, new coaches... Chelsea is a winning machine. I’m the greatest until someone wins four, yes. It’s a fait-divers...".

It was here that you said you were the Special One. Do you hope to come back here one day to coach Chelsea again?

"You never know... After 25 years, I expected to return to Portugal to coach the national team, not Benfica. And now I’m here. I don’t have career projects. I try to think about what can or can’t happen. The most important thing is: wherever I am, I try to close that chapter. Now I’m at Benfica and I’m very happy. I have a huge responsibility. Many years now, in age and in football. Benfica is a giant club and the responsibility is giant for several reasons. You know me, you know how I am. Let’s go for it tomorrow. Until the start of the match it’ll be ‘my’ Chelsea, during the match it’s ‘my’ Benfica."

When you were at Man United, you had a controversial moment here...

"Once, people thought I was reacting provocatively [as Man United coach]. Sarri behaved very well and so did Chelsea. On the bench, everyone can have less good behavior. In the end, nothing happened. On the street, people always ask me for photos...".

Do you feel coming to Chelsea was the best decision of your career? Would you accept to return to this project?

"At that time, I had different options. Even here in the Premier League. It was a happy marriage. The reason I came back a second time was because I’d been so happy the first. And, as I said, I’m important in Chelsea’s history and Chelsea in mine. I think it was a fantastic decision I made at the time. To say it was the best? I can tell you which were the worst, clearly. But I made many good decisions."

There’s an ongoing investigation into Chelsea’s breaches of fair play. Some happened when you were here...

"And at Manchester City? I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know what the accusations are...".

With this new management, Chelsea is different. How do you think you’d do working in this new model?

"I don’t know what the model is, I’ve never studied this new model. There was a period where, even from the outside, I had some questions. It seemed like Chelsea had lost its identity. But what happened last season put Chelsea back on the right track. They gave responsibility to Enzo [Maresca], he imposed his ideas, and won the Conference League, which is an easy competition for such a big club. And then, at the Club World Cup... People can say the Champions League is much more important, and I say that too, but that [champion] badge means a lot. Congratulations to Chelsea for that. They built a base of confidence and even I feel it. My son comes here every week and knows the feeling is different. That less good period was full of doubts. Now there’s confidence. I think Chelsea is back."

This morning, Joe Cole spoke about you. Do you think Chelsea can win the Champions League?

"Joe Cole always speaks well of me... Even if I make a mistake, Joe is my boy. We always support each other. I’ll always say Joe Cole is the best player in history. It’s something that was built and stays forever. The Champions League is much harder than the Club World Cup, but Chelsea has the potential to win it, yes."

How have you lived the last few days? The return to Dragão, then you were named Benfica coach, now you face Chelsea again...

"As a person, nothing changes. The fact I’m in Portugal, now close to home... I’ve slept many times at Benfica Campus. I’ll even tell you something that will interest the Portuguese: I’ve only had one training session with the full group. In the others, some were recovering, some were absent for other reasons. I haven’t had time... I’ve just tried to prepare the matches, help the players. Tomorrow we’ll play, Wednesday we’ll return to Lisbon, and it’ll be the first time I’ll say ‘go home, see you tomorrow’. That happened for the first time when I went to Tottenham. It’s a very complicated situation. There’s little time to think, I don’t even think about myself."

Dodi Lukebakio’s press conference:

Preview of the match.

"I think we’re all ready. We didn’t get the 3 points in the first match and now we’re here to give everything and get them."

Are you fully fueled to deliver what Mourinho wants?

"The coach is here, you can ask him... I’m a player and I’m trying to do my best. If he thinks I’m ready and that I can play... He’s experienced and knows that. My job is to do my best and do what I can."

How would you describe your first days at Benfica? How do you feel?

"I feel very good. A lot has changed. It’s a new club. But I’m very happy, everyone welcomed me very well. I’ve met very good people at the club so far. I have a new coach, one of the best in the world. I’m not saying that because he’s next to me, but it really is what it is... It’s a dream, something very special. Every player wants to have a coach of this level. I’m excited and eager to learn more."

What do you think of Chelsea? What are you expecting tomorrow?

"Chelsea is a great club and we have to be concerned. We’ll need to be prepared. They’re playing at home and we know it’ll be a tough match mentally. We need to listen to the coach and do what he asks of us. The goal is clear, to get the 3 points."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.