Benfica, Mourinho shines on debut: 3-0 over Avs, press conference star | OneFootball

The Special One returns to Portugal and starts strong. “I’m not here to wage war against Porto.” Then the future dream: the national team.

Benfica, Mourinho shines on debut: 3-0 against Avs and monologue in press conference

José Mourinho has returned to Lisbon and did so in his own style: a clear victory on the field and statements that immediately spark debate. Benfica defeated Avs 3-0 in the Portuguese League, with the Special One also being the absolute protagonist in the press room. Amid memories of Porto, clarifications on the reasons for his choice, and the dream of one day coaching Portugal, Mourinho's return to Portuguese football could not go unnoticed.

Everything easy for Benfica against Avs

The home debut at the Estádio do Clube Desportivo das Aves did not disappoint expectations. The first half ended with a lead thanks to Heorhiy Sudakov's last-minute goal. In the second half, Vangelis Pavlidis converted a penalty in the 59th minute, steering the match. Ivanović sealed the final 3-0 shortly after, closing the game. A clear victory that allowed Benfica to redeem themselves after European disappointments and quickly climb the standings.

Mourinho in second place behind Porto

With this victory, the “Eagles” rise to second place in the league with 13 points and a game in hand. However, they remain five points behind the leading Porto, the club with which Mourinho wrote the most glorious page of his career. The upcoming direct confrontation against the Dragões promises sparks both on and off the field.

Mourinho's show in the conference

As always, Mourinho did not limit himself to the game. In the press conference, he wanted to clarify his position on the relationship with Porto:

“By saying that Benfica is one of the most important clubs in the world, I am not saying that Porto is not. I have special affection for Porto, but I did not come here to upset anyone.”

“I don’t expect applause at the Dragão in two weeks, but Porto is an important part of my history. And I am a part of theirs.”

The coach also spoke about relations with Sporting and rival managements, emphasizing that he is not in Lisbon to “wage war,” but to build a winning project.

The dream: the Portuguese national team

Among the statements, there was also a mention of the future:

“I have always thought I would return to Portugal for the national team. I still believe that one day it will happen. For now, I have a two-year contract with Benfica and we’ll see.”

Mourinho also shared a personal detail: his son, who lives a few minutes from the stadium, was present in the stands. A sign of how the return to his homeland has both a family and professional significance.

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