Sporting integrity, Real Madrid and absences: Mourinho on Benfica v Braga | OneFootball

He returned to the press room after the blackout in Famalicão, where he previewed the match against Braga. In response to the journalists’ questions, the Benfica coach addressed the refereeing that marked the B team’s match, the lack of contact he had with Real Madrid and the absences against the Arsenalistas. Check out everything the Special One said.

Last game of the season at the Estádio da Luz. What kind of Sp. Braga are you expecting?

"I think we have the right mentality of a team playing two finals. You’re right, it’s the last home game, which also has some extra meaning. The fact they played in midweek, I think they had, by regulation but also in fairness, the game postponed to Monday, which gives them the fourth day after the Europa League, and we all know the big difficulty is playing on the third day and not the fourth day, also because of Sp. Braga’s style of play. I think they still need something to confirm 4th place, so they certainly won’t be lacking motivation."

Whatever happens, do you think sporting truth was called into question this season? And regarding the 10 demands you allegedly made to Real Madrid, is that true?

"As for sporting truth, I refer you to yesterday’s game between Benfica B and Académico de Viseu, just watch that game to understand a few things. As for my demands to Real Madrid, I don’t know what you’re talking about, so I can’t tell you much."

"There is one thing I would like to stress: in the football world, it is not the professionals who have an interest in going or not going somewhere. When something happens, it is the clubs that have an interest and that either start or do not start procedures to get the people they want. You keep talking about Real Madrid, and I keep avoiding it in all honesty. I have had no contact with the president or any other club official. At the final stage of seasons, I don’t talk to anyone. I have had no contact with Real Madrid and until the last league game against Estoril I won’t have any either. Afterwards, there is a one-week window in which I will be free to speak with whoever I think I should speak to, but about demands and meetings... it is all speculation."

Is Tomás Araújo 100% available for this match? What impact does the captain’s absence have?

"The captain’s absence is important, someone who was almost always available and who played whenever he was fit. It’s a loss, just like Ríos’s absence is. Tomás is fine, he trained without any limitations on Friday and Saturday. All the signs are very positive. There’s no point hiding it here. Tomás will play and António will play and, as you understood from yesterday’s B team game, Gonçalo Oliveira did not play so he could be on the bench tomorrow and give us the protection [in that position] that we need."

Before the game with Real Madrid you said it would be “do or die,” and then after the game with Famalicão you said you would rather Benfica were playing needing the 9 points...:

"Before the game with Famalicão I said it might sound contradictory or stupid on my part, but I think you understood what I meant. Tomorrow we do not need to fake emotions because it is objective: we have to win, we have no other option. In fact, in Famalicão dropping two points the way we did was possible, the truth is we went there with the right mentality. We produced 60 minutes of fantastic quality, but then other factors came into play that led us not to win the match. But the attitude was right. The training week was long, but good. We have two absences, but we have players who want to play and want to give a good response. It is the last home game of the season and it is a decisive one, so the mood in the stadium will also be important for the team. We are going into the last game with the ambition of continuing to depend only on ourselves."

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