Octávio Ribeiro wants Mourinho to explain Benfica-Porto choices | OneFootball

José Mourinho’s decisions in the Clássico between Benfica and Porto, last Sunday, the 8th, are causing quite a stir. Octávio Ribeiro does not understand the Special One’s choices and leaves a harsh message for the Portuguese coach.

“Anyone who listened to José Mourinho after the clássico must have been puzzled. That conversation sounded more appropriate for a psychoanalysis session. The person speaking with such detachment was the very author of the decisions that nearly led to disaster,” he commented in his opinion piece in the newspaper Record.

The journalist gave the example of the limited use of Manu Silva. “When Mourinho says that Manu Silva was the only option he had for Enzo Barrenechea and that Manu does not provide greater dynamism, the coach knows that this is far from being true. Manu has greater stamina, both attacking and defending, a wider range of action, better technique, a better shot, and some instinct for goal, which the Argentine completely lacks,” he wrote.

Octávio Ribeiro also criticized Benfica’s organization on Porto’s second goal and took a jab at Mourinho regarding... Anísio Cabral. “For the coach, it was a nightmare to see the absence of the right-back, Tomás Araújo deserting, the two pivots lost elsewhere. And all this chaos forced Otamendi into a sprint only to be naively dribbled past by a Polish youngster the same age as the talented Anísio Cabral. This excellent forward, whom Mourinho does not dare to put on the field,” he concluded.

It should be noted that Benfica will be back on the pitch next Saturday, March 14, against Arouca. The match, part of the 26th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team led by Vasco Seabra, will be played at 8:30 p.m. at the opponent’s ground.

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