Everything Jose Mourinho said ahead of Benfica v Arouca | OneFootball

After a heavy defeat against Newcastle, Benfica is looking to turn things around in their very next match, against Arouca. In the pre-match press conference, José Mourinho answered journalists' questions, clarifying some topics that have been hovering around the current Benfica scene. Additionally, the Special One confirmed a return. Check out everything that was said below.

Pre-match thoughts: What kind of Arouca do you expect? How is the team?

"We need to win. We're not in first place and we have a 4-point and a 1-point deficit to overcome. We need to win games. In the last league match we drew away, and the last home game was tough but we managed to get the 3 points. We have to try to keep up the good results because those chasing don't have much room [for error]. It's important for us to win the game, it's important to keep the pressure on our two rivals ahead of us. That's the goal. Obviously, compared to the last game, Dedic's injury rules him out of this match, but the team is doing well. We absolutely have to have the mentality to be able to close chapters. And the Newcastle chapter is closed. Very objectively, I would say that the Champions League is to be forgotten for a couple of weeks, and just remember that there are 16 or 18 teams with zero, one, two, or three points. We're just a few points away from the qualification zone. There's an important gap between the teams that have won all three games, and we can perfectly control that by picking up points and winning the upcoming matches. Tomorrow's game is the most important. We expect a typical Arouca, one of those opponents who sit comfortably in the table. Teams that have enough quality for a calm season, to play good football, who don't feel any kind of pressure, neither to win the title nor to avoid relegation. Good teams, good players, well-coached and who will create difficulties. But I believe in my players, in the little but good work we've done, especially today. I apologize for only letting you watch 15 minutes, but we needed that space. We know what we have to do and, with all due respect to Arouca, I believe we will win."

With Dedic out, can you reveal who will play at right-back? Will José Mourinho vote tomorrow?

"We have two options, different in terms of qualities but the same in that both are adaptations. Tomás is a center-back, Fredrik is a midfielder, but both have played in that position. Tomás is a more conservative option, Fredrik is more attacking because he has a different skill set. Leandro [Santos] will go with the B team to Feira. There are youngsters who need to play and it's important for them to go to the B team from time to time. I'm a member and I will vote."

Do you expect the Estádio da Luz to be buzzing tomorrow? Last year, this Arouca took points from Benfica...

"These are teams that play well, they don't have the pressure. Sometimes that propels them to be better, even because pressure sometimes stifles the quality of teams. It's a well-coached team, with good players, they already took points at the Luz last season and they're coming again with that intention. I believe we will manage to win. Regarding election day, I believe it's a day of great Benfiquismo, that everyone who goes to the stadium will be there to live Benfica, both in terms of the election and the match... Obviously, many, frustrated like us, will be frustrated with the result from last Tuesday. On a very personal note, I think we're too big to be happy with others' misfortune. But the reality is that the teams that played against English teams in this Champions League round all suffered heavy [results]. We had a very good first half [against Newcastle], with personality, wanting to win, a team that matched a more powerful opponent. And in the second half we collapsed. And at this level, in that discipline, we have to maintain. Tomorrow I believe Benfiquismo will be at its highest, the team will respond and we will manage to win."

Is the squad good or not? You've already said you'll vote. Do you identify with any candidate's ideas?

"I respect all the candidates to the utmost. I look at my president as one of the six candidates and not as my president. I know who I'm going to vote for. Want to know? For Benfica. I'm voting for Benfica. Regarding the squad, I liked Benfica's squad so much that I wanted to take one of their most important players. And I did everything for that. And maybe that was one of the reasons I ended up leaving Fenerbahçe, the frustration of not being able to take from Benfica a player I considered fundamental to my way of thinking about the game. It was with great regret that, indirectly, I contributed to the squad being different. My fault. I did everything to have him with me, and in the end I didn't have him at Fenerbahçe or at Benfica. It's true that I like many things about Benfica's squad, but it's also true, and you know me, that when playing against Benfica I wanted to take a bit of pressure off my side and put more on Benfica. Even taking it to the point of history, tradition, dimension, and familiarity with Champions League games. But it's also true that I think, and we all think – including the staff working with me and the other candidates, even the fans – that we're missing something. And it's not 10 players, nor 15, nor five. Many times, just one player with a certain profile, either because he's experienced or has characteristics others don't, is enough to improve a team and allow for different dynamics. And I think in January Benfica will surely have one or two more players to help improve our team. You mentioned a very young bench. If there's someone who likes to launch young players, it's me. If there's someone who launched players like Varane, Petr Cech... I'm one of those with that history. I completely agree that our squad should have this kind of youngsters. Some will reach higher, others not so much. I'm optimistic that domestically we'll be as close as possible to our rivals until January, maybe even ahead. We'll be fighting for the championship. And I'm absolutely convinced that, once we get our first 3 points in the Champions League, we'll put ourselves in the fight and we'll fight until the end to qualify."

What did you think of the World Cup Prestianni had? What can he bring? Is he an option for tomorrow? Tomorrow the election period could end, do you feel calmer?

"We've always worked calmly. I think the pre-election period must have been exhausting for the candidates. That's how Benfica is and it should be exhausting. Not for us. In terms of our work, our day-to-day, we always managed to 'shut out' the noise. Of course, some more than others, things get through, but it had no negative influence. We did our job as best we could and I don't think there's a problem there. Prestianni? It was a good decision on our part to let him go. We didn't have him for three or four games, but it was good. It's hard to say no to a player who wants to go. It was good for his development, to play, to compete. To feel responsibility, the pressure of playing for his national team, a great national team. To feel what it's like to play a semi-final, a final. I think it was a great decision. He trained yesterday and today, he's called up, in the group and could be an option. Especially coming back with confidence, joy and sadness. He's a kid who will surely get minutes tomorrow and can help us."

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