Alcides Freire: Mourinho bested 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 coach, who managed to convince everyone that he was the big winner of the matchday.

"Regarding the Sunday night classic, not very family-friendly for those who like to go to football: Mourinho won in what he said outwardly, Farioli won in what he said internally. José Mourinho is not just any name, and his influence goes beyond what he says from the bench to the field, which is one of the conclusions that can be drawn from Porto - Benfica," he began by saying to the newspaper O Jogo.

Alcides Freire points to a stagnation in the coach's football, but highlights another mastered area: "If the results of recent years are far from those that made the Portuguese admire the 'Special One', the fact that he was coaching those playing 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 the Estádio do Dragão, where he sought 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 the reds... - lose? Because he could have been seven points ahead. Still, he could also have been left with only a one-point advantage if he lost," he added.

Alcides Freire assures: "by putting an end to the Porto-Benfica at the moment he heard the final whistle from Miguel Nogueira, the Porto coach did not engage in the communication battle, losing it to Mourinho. Everyone, or almost everyone, was convinced that Mourinho won, once again."

"But, to be fair: Farioli won in what he said internally, praising the team a lot after the first less positive result of the season. In fact, he was more complimentary to the players than after some of the eight consecutive victories. At the end of the season, we will know what counts for points: what is said outwardly or what is spoken internally. For now, it was a draw," concluded Alcides Freire.

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