Everything José Mourinho said ahead of Newcastle v Benfica | OneFootball

José Mourinho, the red coach, spoke to journalists in a pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle vs Benfica this Monday, October 20. The match is scheduled for next Tuesday at 8:00 PM at St James's Park. Read here everything the Eagles' coach had to say.

"Regarding the elections, playing for Benfica in itself brings pressure, responsibility, and it's not for everyone, but that inherent pressure of being Benfica's coach and player is enough. It's not fair and we are not preparing for that. We are preparing for the match, just as we did for Saturday and will do for the next Saturday, trying to forget that there are elections because our job is something else. There are 18 points at stake, after tomorrow there will be 15... if we get 15, we qualify. We don't need 15, 14, 12, 12... tomorrow's match is not decisive, but we will play as if it is."

Newcastle very dear

"I always felt something special even before mister [Bobby] Robson passed away. After that, I felt the closeness, that even with people we love, daily life makes us overlook the longing. There are places that make us open the door for those people to enter our thoughts. I worked with mister Robson for six years and not a day went by that he didn't show his passion for Newcastle, the city and the club, the pride with which he spoke... I never hid that Newcastle has always been a dear club to me, obviously due to the influence of a legend of this club."

Analysis of Newcastle

"Maybe we win and don't need anything more. Maybe in the end we'll say that we lacked nothing to win here. We'll see. There's an opponent ahead, many times there's a plan that can be put into practice and other times not. Then people think the plan was wrong, but sometimes it's because of the opponent. We're going to play against a very strong team. The less professional look at the Premier League table and are misled about the team's potential. It's an organized team, with players handpicked by Eddie, very organized, physical, good players on the wings. A stadium that plays with them. People come here to play with the team. It's going to be complicated, but I also think it will be for them."

St James's Park

"It's not just the stadium, it's the club, the history, the passion of the fans, the financial power that allows them to get out of a complicated situation and win for the first time in decades as they did with the League Cup. That allows them to play two seasons in the Champions League. They are a team that is close to achieving bigger things, which these people deserve. The culture of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham is different from this area. I love playing here. I told the players that even as an opponent, it's fantastic to play here."

Signing for a draw

"No, I said the same with Chelsea and we lost. Maybe we should have accepted the draw. We want to play and within our limitations we are prepared. If we came here to train, it would be impossible to train. We know they will want to take the game to where they are strongest and we have to take it to another context."

Frustrations and Manu Silva

"Nothing frustrates me, even though it was the third time in my career that I took over a team with the season already underway. Benfica, Tottenham, and now Benfica again. I can't say I have a lot of experience in this, but I know it's much harder, with no time to work, to discuss things internally. Eddie has players of the profile he wants, according to how he wants to play. When you arrive in the middle of the season you can't be frustrated. It is what it is. I didn't arrive halfway, but with the train already moving, but I have to adapt without frustration. Manu? We think he will be training with us next week in a full way. He does a lot of things with control, but next week he can join the normal work with the team. By the end of November, he should be fit to play."

Have you ever turned down Newcastle?

"I have no regrets. I never turned down Newcastle. I have turned down some clubs, respectfully, but Newcastle never contacted me. To be honest, they don't need a coach. That means everything is going well for the club and for Eddie and that's what I wish them. Right now, there wouldn't be another club that would motivate me or make me happier than Benfica. I wouldn't trade Benfica for any other club in the world right now."

Motivation

"When I left England, I thought Newcastle wasn't far off. The first time they played in the Champions League was three years ago. It's a process for the club. When I went to Roma, I played in the Conference and Europa League, so there was no opportunity to return. At Fenerbahçe we beat Feyenoord and lost to Benfica. Being here is great for me. Even though I have 200 games in the Champions League, Champions is Champions. It's always a great thrill. I would also like to offer my condolences to the family of Stewart Pearce."

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