Mourinho attacked the referee after the draw against Rio Ave: The Portuguese is back to his old habits! | OneFootball

Only two matches for the Portuguese, and the controversy began.

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The highly anticipated homecoming of José Mourinho to Benfica was meant to be a celebration, but it concluded with a familiar scene: the "Special One" directing his ire towards the match officials. The joy of his return was swiftly overshadowed by controversy as his team, the Eagles, saw a certain victory dramatically slip from their grasp against Rio Ave.

The pivotal moment arrived on the hour mark. The stadium erupted as André Silva sent the ball into the net, sending the home fans into a frenzy. However, their celebrations were cut short by the referee's whistle, disallowing the goal for an alleged attacking foul—a decision that left the bench in disbelief.

As the clock ticked down, hope seemed to be fading. Then, in the 86th minute, a breakthrough finally came. Ukrainian midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov became the hero of the moment, breaking the deadlock and seemingly securing the win for the hosts.

But the drama was far from over. In a cruel twist of fate, just five minutes after taking the lead, Benfica's defense was breached. Rio Ave found an equalizer, shattering the Eagles' hopes and leaving the stadium in stunned silence. For Mourinho, the final whistle signaled an unjust outcome, one he firmly believes was shaped by the controversial decisions on the pitch, marking a bitter start to his latest chapter.