Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Thursday, December 11, 2025, 08:59 / Updated Thursday, December 11, 2025 09:00
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho did not hesitate to boast at the end of the 2-0 win over Napoli.
Jose Mourinho scored a big win against Napoli and Antonio Conte on Wednesday. And when the ball was picked up “at the net”, he did not hesitate to “hit” it in full.
Jose Mourinho did not miss the opportunity to boast
Asked at one point whether Italian football is moving at a slower pace than the Champions League, the Benfica coach replied that “it's a valid issue in Portugal as well. We have the same problem.
The last time a Portuguese team won the Champions League was over 20 years ago, while the last Italian team won the trophy 15 years ago. There is definitely something special.”
The allusions are obvious. The last Portuguese team to win the Champions League was FC Porto in 2004 with Mourinho on the bench. And the last Italian club to claim the trophy was Inter Milan, also with “Mou” on the bench.
Jose Mourinho: “Whoever invests the most wins”
The one who in his first term at Chelsea (2004 – 2007) called himself “The Special One” believes that it's all about money. “The financial aspect is crucial. The teams that win are the ones that invest the most.
“But Inter reached two finals in a short space of time, so an Italian team was not that far away from triumphing in the Champions League again,” Mourinho said.
Antonio Conte: “Benfica had two extra days at their disposal”
His loser, Antonio Conte, blamed the fact that his team had less time to prepare the match than the opponent, but also the fact that it has no reserve bench. “We are coming after a series of games played three days apart and we have always used the same eleven, so it is normal to feel tired after that.
Sunday's match (no – 2-1 with Juventus) was a key one. We played in the evening and had to travel. Benfica played on Friday and had two extra days. We have to keep that in mind, given the situation we're in, it's understandable.
I mentioned energy because I know how much I expended, both physically and mentally. We have no other options but to try to recover as best we can. Some players were definitely tired and it showedthere is no chance to rotate them too much”, Conte complained about the lack of solutions on the bench.
