Rui Costa relaxed over Benfica key man's future despite pressure | OneFootball

The name of José Mourinho continues to make headlines in Spain due to the crisis at Real Madrid, but at Benfica confidence remains intact. Rui Costa believes the coach will stay at the Luz. The issue is not causing concern either in the SAD offices or within the Eagles' football structure.

According to what O JOGO has learned, despite reports coming from Spain indicating an increasingly close connection between Mourinho and Real Madrid, including alleged meetings with Florentino Pérez, Benfica insist that nothing has changed, and that there has been no videoconference between the Portuguese coach, the president of the "Merengues" and Jorge Mendes.

At the Luz, the plan is to move forward with the coach’s renewal for two more seasons, and preparations for next season continue to be carried out jointly by Rui Costa, Mourinho and the professional football structure. The Eagles are already working, including, on reinforcements requested by the coach, such as Issa Doumbia, a Venezia midfielder, and Rodrigo Zalazar, from Braga - a player approved by a Club legend - clear signs that the "Special One" remains fully involved in planning for 2026/27.

Amid this "chaos", the coach remains fully focused on the final stretch of the league campaign. Internally, the 63-year-old manager considers it essential to secure second place in the league, a position that could open the door to next season’s Champions League, a goal he sees as the priority at this stage of the season.

It should be noted that the next match between Benfica and Braga is scheduled for next Monday, 11 May, in a game from the 33rd round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m., and it will take place at the Estádio da Luz.

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