Future, Europa League and Rui Costa: Mourinho after Estoril - Benfica | OneFootball

held, on the night of this Saturday, May 16, possibly his press conference as Benfica coach. In the aftermath of the Eagles’ 3-1 victory, the Special One spoke about an unbeaten league campaign, his future, both at Luz and at Real Madrid, and also about the Europa League. Check out everything the Setúbal-born coach said.

Analysis of the last game of the season and an assessment of the months of work at Benfica. What do you feel for Benfica?

"We will speak openly about that at the end of my career. I think it was another game like so many others, meaning a very good and very strong Benfica. But a Benfica that rarely manages to turn into goals everything it creates. This result is very short. But also the same Benfica as always, with worthy players who respect the club, the profession, who fight for results, who often do not play only against the opponent, and the fact that we are the only team in Europe without defeats is obviously not a title - obviously we would prefer two or three defeats and a title - but the fact of being unbeaten says a lot about the group, the resilience and the friendship. An almost historic situation, to finish a league campaign without defeats".

What needs to be in that contract for you to stay at Benfica? Does the Champions League matter?

"Champions League? No, no, no. I have not seen [the contract], but obviously Jorge Mendes has and told me the contract was very good. It has nothing to do with whether we have the Champions League or not. Obviously the Europa League is not the competition Benfica wants to play in, it is not the competition that goes hand in hand with its history and prestige, but Benfica can win the Europa League. It has every condition to win it, unlike in the Champions League, where victories are limited to clubs from countries that are economically stronger than Portugal".

Real Madrid?

"I don’t know. I don’t know if you saw the flash interview. The only thing I have in my hands is Benfica’s renewal offer, but Jorge Mendes told me it was a very good offer. But it is true that I have not spoken with Florentino or anyone from Real Madrid’s structure. But I also said in the 'flash' that none of us is stupid. There are contacts between Jorge Mendes and the club and I think those contacts will also exist with me during the next week, when I am expected to decide my future and path".

What could lead you to say yes or no to Real Madrid?

"I’m not going to comment much on that. Unlike many coaches, normally when I leave a club I do not make comments about the past. I look at the present. I’m not saying I’m going to leave, but if I do leave I will not comment on what led me to leave. But there are things I have to think about, obviously".

Unbeaten in the League:

"The fact that we finished the league without defeats is fantastic. It is the first time I have finished the league unbeaten. But I would trade that for the title, with two or three defeats. But that reflects the team’s work and spirit. When you know you cannot win the league, I think it reflects the players’ professionalism even more. The way they honored the shirt makes me proud. My future should be decided next week. I have an offer from Benfica, I do not have an offer from Real Madrid. But at the same time I said that I cannot hide that there is not nothing with Real Madrid, but there is nothing with me. I need space and time to make my decision. I think this week will be important in that regard". "Benfica is a big club and from the day I arrived here I always felt that, the honor and the great responsibility of working at a club like Benfica. Benfica is a big club".

Jorge Mendes:

"How do I justify the duality of the published news? You are the one who has to justify it. You are the one who works in the media. You see one thing and the next minute you see something contradictory in the same outlet. There is nothing to explain. I think it has to be you, who perhaps understands it better than I do. I thank the president for making me Benfica coach, for making me a contract renewal offer. There is a window that we decided on, he out of respect for his opponents in the elections and I out of respect for Benfica. That window is there and I want to use it. I am not saying I want to use it to leave. I want to use it to have time to decide. I have not signed with Real Madrid, I do not have a contract with Real Madrid, I do not have an offer. I have nothing. But I will not deny that my agent was the one who spoke to me, not Real Madrid, and said: 'be careful because there may be a real and serious situation with Real Madrid, let’s wait'. Ok, let’s wait". "I don’t know. It may be that there ends up being nothing. At this moment I have a contract with Benfica, I have an offer from Benfica and I have a window to decide. Calm. Tomorrow I will wake up as Benfica coach. On Monday I will wake up as Benfica coach and then I will go to the Training Center in Seixal and we will see what happens". "It is the same story: 'if this happens, if that happens...'. Real Madrid’s coach is Álvaro, he plays tomorrow, right? The only thing I wish is for Real Madrid to win tomorrow".

Happy at Benfica:

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