See everything José Mourinho said after Rio Ave v Benfica | OneFootball

José Mourinho did not mince words at the press conference. In the aftermath of Benfica's victory, which defeated Rio Ave 2-0, the Portuguese coach, who had already analyzed the Eagles' performance, answered questions posed by journalists. Check out everything the Special One said.

Do you agree with the idea that this is Benfica's best first half of the season in the championship? "I believe so, but I don't forget the many good games Benfica has played away in the championship. If at Luz we have played some good games and others where, despite not losing, we weren't convincing, I think our away career has been very convincing. The way we won in Guimarães, in Moreira de Cónegos, today. Obviously, I don't want to talk about a draw in Braga or at Dragão because draws are not victories, but what the team has done away has been very convincing. Today was a very, very, very good and strong first half, where the 2-0 was short for what we had done. Against a good team. Super satisfied with what the players did."

There has been a lot of talk about Benfica playing without wingers, that Leandro Barreiro doesn't have the quality to play as a 10 and that it has to be Sudakov. Did everything that was said have an effect today? "You have to ask those who talk. I don't understand anything about tactics and dynamics. Those who talk about these things are people who know a lot. It's better to talk to them. I understand little about it."

What do you take from this game? The way the team came in very motivated after two defeats, or these small tactical changes? "The most important thing is that after the sadness of a defeat, we managed to have the mental energy, belief, self-esteem to come here and do what we did. Playing 90-odd minutes last Wednesday in the north, a sad, long journey. We decided internally to travel only today and travel by plane on the day of the game, which is a bit against nature. Trying to transform the sadness and frustration of a defeat into positivity, instead of clinging to the defeat. Clinging to what they did, which was anything but deserving of a defeat. Given the many injuries we have, Enzo's presence on the bench is doubtful. Manu himself is also not well yet. Bruma is far from being well. We played two away games against two difficult teams after trips up, down, up. Practically with the same players, changing one or two but with little to change. I think the players sometimes also deserve positive words. And, on my part, tremendous respect for what they did in these last games. And especially today, with obviously fatigued people, managing to come here and win expressively. The result is not, but the way they played, dominated, and controlled is expressive."

Benfica found many spaces in the three corridors today. How important was all this, as well as Sudakov's role? And the triangulations on the right corridor, how important were they? "Rio Ave is a team that defends with both wingers closing inside. But when the ball enters the lateral corridor, they are the ones who jump. Sometimes with a bit of delay. And having two open players in each corridor, Dahl and Schjelderup on one side, Dedic and Prestianni on the other, having Sudakov or Pavlidis drop makes it difficult for the opponent if things go well. We took that risk because the way we read it, Rio Ave creates more danger on the recovered ball and transition. That's how they scored at Luz, in Barcelo too, against Casa Pia... It has risk. When you have so much ball and lose it, there's always that risk. But the team was very solid. Barreiro and Aursnes, behind that offensive structure, always gave a very good balance to the team in ball rotation. It's a very well-achieved game by the boys, especially with the difficulty of having played Wednesday and playing again, always the same. Only Schjelderup and Otamendi can be said to be fresh. Sudakov played 50 minutes on Wednesday. They were very strong mentally, all credit to them."

What way did you find to motivate the group at this time? "The way to motivate and prepare the team for this game is by following a very basic principle, which some people don't understand or don't want to understand. There are people talking about me, criticizing. But the principle is very basic: justice. And those who play like Benfica did at Dragão, with the game the players played, with the commitment, courage... I treated them with justice. Justice is affection, empathy, talking, dialoguing. Not going to the side of 'result, defeat, elimination'. Going in the direction of 'great game, personality, great dominance'. It was simply going by the side of justice. Then, we analyzed Rio Ave as we analyze any team. We found a way, with the players we had available, to dominate the game and create danger. With the players we had and what was on the bench... There were three players not incapacitated, but limited. Manu, Bruma, and Enzo. Then, Rego and Neto. Mr. António Silva with Mr. Tomás and Mr. Otamendi, we are perfectly calm. Whoever plays is a great central duo. And with these limitations, trying to go into a game where it was very important to dominate and balance. Paying attention to organization. We didn't lose the ball much, but when we did, the team was organized. Very well Dahl and Dedic in controlling the wingers. The players were very brave. What was done? Nothing special. And not just on my part. The president himself, when he spoke to the players today before the game, Mário Branco yesterday, Simão Sabrosa two days ago, everyone was fair. And they responded to that justice with, I think, a great individual and collective performance."

What did you think of André Luiz's performance? Does it increase or decrease interest? "I will not comment on Rio Ave players individually. First, because they are from Rio Ave, and second because when you are on the bench and look at the overall game, you are not specifically following one player. We knew Rio Ave was a good team, we managed to define well what they are, we know how they managed to draw at Luz, and we tried to take it in a direction. The result at halftime was short, and it was important to continue to control in the second half. Having good cohesion in the sense of 'lost ball, organized and balanced team'."

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