Benfica star rues international break: "It's a challenge" | OneFootball

José Mourinho admitted that returning to Benfica is an enormous responsibility, and lamented the number of Benfica players who joined their national teams during the current FIFA international break. The Eagles’ coach was present at the Portugal Football Globes, where he spoke to the media.

José Mourinho regretted not being able to count on a large group of players during the FIFA international break. The Benfica coach spoke with the media at the most recent edition of the Portugal Football Globes, which took place last Tuesday, October 7th.

"It has been challenging, a great responsibility. But in my own country, at a club with the social dimension of Benfica, it is much greater," José Mourinho began by telling the journalists present. It’s worth recalling that the coach replaced Bruno Lage at the helm of the Eagles, who also commented on that decision.

José Mourinho, a big name in the history of world football, with two Champions League titles on his résumé, then said he hopes to be a positive influence for national football: "I will try to ensure that my presence is positive for the development and prestige of our football".

José Mourinho joined Benfica at a time with many matches, where conveying new playing ideas is complicated due to the few training sessions he has led. The international break would have been a good time for this to happen, but the Eagles were left without a large part of their squad, who joined their respective national teams. Regarding this situation, the Benfica coach said the following:

"It’s difficult [to get the message across], but it also means quality because the players are called up. But it also gives us the opportunity to work with the under-19s, under-23s, and even under-16s to train with us. It’s a club that looks to the youth," concluded the Benfica coach.

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