Beyond Otamendi, Mourinho confirms two more absentees for Porto v Benfica | OneFootball

The first defeat of Benfica at the national level this season, against Braga in the League Cup, not only brought the disappointment of the result but also confirmed a concerning clinical scenario for the classic against Porto on the 14th, counting for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

"Now, it's difficult to play in Porto. Playing without Otamendi and António Silva is difficult. Without Enzo and a recovering Manu, it's difficult," stated José Mourinho, confirming two more important absences for the clash against the dragons, which greatly complicates the task for the Clube da Luz.

"This was the first defeat we had in Portugal this season. The first half was also the worst performance we've had this season. The bench we had today is a team of youngsters without minutes for the main team," added the red coach, not at all satisfied with the performance of his players.

"We have had difficulties, but my nature as a coach is to never give up and not allow those with me to give up," concluded José Mourinho. As of today, the reds have more than a dozen injured players, some of them regular starters, such as Dodi Lukebakio or Enzo Barrenechea.

Benfica will be back in action next Wednesday, January 14, at 20:45, traveling to Porto's stronghold. The match pertains to the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, and the reds have only one objective: to secure a place in the next stage of the prestigious competition.

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