Jose Mourinho brutally honest as he reflects on Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho back at St James’ Park.

A stellar manager who has won a load of trophies but rarely enjoyed many wins on Tyneside.

This was another defeat for the collection.

Benfica gave Newcastle United a game in the first half and maybe 2-1 would have reflected the opening 45 minutes better than the actual 1-0 NUFC lead.

However, in the second half, Jose Mourinho watched on as his Benfica team were overwhelmed and torn apart.

United added two more goals but it could and should have been four or more, as only an inspired performance from the visiting keeper kept the score down.

Jose Mourinho brutally honest (although very much exaggerating what was the reality in the first half) when reflecting what he had experienced at St James’ Park:

“This tells me about the level of Newcastle United.

“We could not compete with their horsepower and we lost being compact and were exposed.

“It is just a case of levels…

“While the score was open and I think it was even unfairly open, because in the first half the team played well on the pitch, the players felt comfortable in a stadium with a palpable atmosphere.

“The danger they posed for us was obviously from set-pieces and everything indirect in the box, because it is difficult to compete with a team with this physicality, but we had great chances to score, three or four. Before they scored, we had a beautiful shot from Lukebakio that hit the post, so I reiterate that the first-half result doesn’t reflect the game at all.

“There is a team with a higher horsepower engine than the other.

“A team with much more intensity.

“A team with much more speed.

“As I said in the [pre-match) press conference, Newcastle have four lightning-fast wingers. They don’t have one or two. They have four! Anthony Gordon was man of the match.

“And when you change two who come on in the 50th or 60th minute, when you change one and then later change another, we were exposed as we lost the compact play we had in the first half.

“If we score a goal before them, if we reach half-time leading, [even if] we reach half-time tied, we can continue with the same type of organisation…

“The second goal, psychologically, kills us.

“The players felt the second goal deeply, then the game took a different turn, which was tough for us.”

Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Tuesday 21 October 2025 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 32, Barnes 70,83

Benfica:

Possession was Newcastle 52% Benfica 48%

Total shots were Newcastle 19 Benfica 7

Shots on target were Newcastle 10 Benfica 2

Corners were Newcastle 12 Benfica 8

Touches in the box Newcastle 38 Benfica 12

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno (Willock 90), Ramsey (Joelinton 63), Miley, Gordon (Elanga 85), Woltemade (Osula 85), Jacob Murphy (Barnes 63)

Unused subs:

Thompson, Ramsdale, Schar, Tonali, Krafth, Alex Murphy

(Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)