Benfica, Mourinho warns: “Against Napoli, it’s an impossible match for us” | OneFootball

Palpable tension at the Johan Cruyff Arena where Benfica is preparing to face Ajax in a match that, for the Portuguese side, has the feel of a true do-or-die for qualification to the next stage of the Champions League. Benfica’s coach, José Mourinho, set the tone and rallied his team, speaking to Sky Sport just minutes before kickoff.

Benfica, Mourinho: “Napoli, Real Madrid and Juventus, on paper, impossible matches”

The Portuguese manager immediately made clear what’s at stake and the strategic importance of the first goal: “We saw against Newcastle and Chelsea how much of a difference it makes to score first. It’s a psychological and practical aspect that can direct the match,” Mourinho explained. “We’re a team that, even when suffering, knows how to create chances and put the opponent in difficulty.”

The match against Ajax allows for no calculations: “For us, it will be important to give our all in this match: we have to win, because losing or drawing would be practically the same,” Mourinho stated. The reason for such pressure lies in the schedule awaiting the Portuguese side after their Dutch commitment. Mourinho painted a bleak picture for the rest of the group stage: “After Ajax, we’ll face Napoli, Real Madrid and Juventus, which on paper seem like impossible matches for us.”

Andrea Alati

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