Alcides Freire: Mourinho edged Porto v Benfica, here’s why | OneFootball

Alcides Freire believes that José Mourinho shone in the Porto - Benfica match when it comes to communication. The expert praises the great rhetorical skill of the Benfica coach, who managed to convince everyone that he was the big winner of the round.

"Still on Sunday night's classic, not very family-friendly for those who like to go to football: Mourinho won in what he said to the outside, Farioli triumphed in what he said internally. José Mourinho is not just any name, and his stature goes beyond what he says from the bench to the field, and that is one of the conclusions that can be drawn from Porto - Benfica," he began, speaking to the newspaper O Jogo.

Alcides Freire points to stagnation in the coach's football, but highlights another area he dominates: "If the results of recent years are far from those that made the Portuguese admire the 'Special One', the fact that he spent this last period coaching teams that played to be a nuisance to the favorites made even more visible an aspect in which he was and continues to be an example: communication."

"This was evident in the press room at Estádio do Dragão, where he tried to convince everyone that, by staying four points behind the Porto leader – and still benefiting from Sporting's draw… – he was the winner of the night, despite having drawn. After all, he could have been seven points behind if he had lost. In that sense, did Farioli, who continues to coach the isolated leader – with four more points than Benfica… – lose? Because he could have been seven points ahead. Even so, he could also have been left with just a one-point advantage if he had lost," he added.

Alcides Freire guarantees: "By putting a full stop to Porto-Benfica the moment he heard Miguel Nogueira's final whistle, the Porto coach did not enter the communication battle, losing it to Mourinho. Everyone, or almost everyone, was convinced that Mourinho won, once again."

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