Bruno Lage? Rui Costa on former Benfica manager's exit: crucial mistake | OneFootball

The departure of Bruno Lage from Benfica, which occurred after the defeat against Qarabag, continues to be a topic of discussion. In an interview with NOW channel, Rui Costa publicly denied that he had not committed to signing a document ensuring that the Setubal native would not leave the club before the elections.

In the same space, where he issued a warning to José Mourinho, the President of Benfica ended up denying what the former coach claimed to have happened: ""Bruno Lage had a conversation with me about this, he did not say that I had to sign the document. I'm not going to sign any document with any coach that until day X of month Y I'm not going to fire him or I'm going to increase him. This is not even part of football".

Next, Rui Costa explained that the Setubal helmsman was aware of the contractual situation: ""With all due respect to Bruno. This issue came up, which was immediately eliminated. Bruno understood. I am the president of Benfica. I can't be signing contracts with coaches that until day X of month Y I'm not going to resign the contract".

When asked if he had ever implied that he would sign the document, the director admitted: ""No. I would have to be making a crucial and brutal mistake in what is the management of the squad and the coach. And honestly, I have to say that it was a pain for me, as it always is, to have to fire a coach".

"It was very hard for me to have the conversation of 'Bruno, we have to part ways here'. One thing is the personal relationship, another is the mission I have as president of Benfica. I could never sign a document like that", Rui Costa finally added, in an interview with the NOW channel,

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