Luís Mateus on Mourinho before Real Madrid v Benfica: his special touch | OneFootball

José Mourinho, even sidelined from the bench due to suspension, views the duel at Santiago Bernabéu as an opportunity to turn every detail into competitive fuel. The Portuguese coach's experience and the intensity of the Madrid setting allow Benfica to create psychological pressure on Real Madrid and inspire his team to a performance that could define an era, as mentioned by Luís Mateus.

"José Mourinho has the opportunity here to propel the players into the match of their lives. That is his touch, he can prove he hasn't lost it. And then, with a sprinkle of strategy mixed with a fierce team, make the game very uncomfortable for the Spaniards" he states, in an opinion piece for the newspaper A BOLA.

The journalist mentions that Benfica, with some highly talented players but still in collective development, needs every decision and strategic gesture to be maximized. "Benfica can prove that it is ready for great challenges and showcase its manifesto of strength and ambition", he emphasized.

Luís Mateus, in the end, criticized Rui Costa for forcing the "Special One" to remain silent regarding the Prestianni-Vinícius case. "Rui Costa had no qualms in ensuring the coach's continuity, words overshadowed by the Vinícius-Prestianni controversy. If it has already been understood that for the president it matters little what hasn't been done or hasn't gone well so far, showing in Madrid that Benfica can be his as early as next year could be Mourinho's manifesto and convince the fans. But only if it's done wholeheartedly. Like a big team", he concluded.

It is worth remembering that Benfica is already preparing for the duel against Real Madrid, scheduled for this Wednesday, February 25th, with the goal of surpassing the Merengues and reaching the Champions League round of 16. The stage will be the Bernabéu Stadium and the ball will start rolling at 20:00.

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