Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Monday, February 23, 2026, 3:53 p.m. / Updated Monday, February 23, 2026, 3:55 p.m.
The coach of Benfica, Jose Mourinho, is ready to use all his “strategic” arsenal to eliminate Real Madrid, which he also sent to the play-offs, in the duel of the last stage of the unique group. In the round, the Madrid team won in Lisbon with 1-0.
At that 0-1 against “Da Luz”, immediately after the goal, Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestianni of calling him “monkey”. Although the Argentine denied it, a whole scandal came out, and UEFA opened an investigation. However, Jose Mourinho is not even thinking about giving up Prestianni in Wednesday's return from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The daily Marca writes that the coach of Benfica “he spoke with Prestianni to strengthen him mentally” in the perspective of what awaits him in Madrid: “I have full confidence in you. I want you to be at your best“.
Jose Mourinho will not watch the game from the stadium, but from a hotel room
At the same time, The Special One would have had a clear message for the rest of the players as well: “Prepare for a hostile environment, ignore the noise and focus exclusively on the match.”
Eliminated in the tour, after receiving two yellow cards for protests, “Mou” will not sit on the bench for the return from the “Santiago Bernabeu”. Marca learned that he does not even intend to watch the game from the stadium, but would stay at a nearby hotel, from where it would be easier for him to communicate with his staff.
Jose Mourinho has changed the team's schedule and wants to come to the press conference in person, even though he is suspended
Also, the Portuguese technician changed the team's schedule before the game. Benfica would normally have trained in Lisbon on Tuesday morning before traveling to Madrid in the afternoon. This time, the Portuguese delegation will make their way to the Spanish capital in the morning, and in the evening the players will train at the Santiago Bernabeu: “Mourinho wants his men to take the pulse of the arena, to feel the turf under their feet“.
He does not intend to leave the pre-match press conference to the account of any second. Precisely because he expects an avalanche of questions about the “Prestianni” case, wants to personally appear before journalists, if UEFA will allow itunder the conditions in which it is suspended.
