After making his debut with a 3-0 convincing win over AVS, Mourinho is set to face the challenge from Rio Ave. This match is a rescheduled fixture of the 1st round of the Primeira Liga, which will be held at the Estádio da Luz. Below is the content of Mourinho's pre-match press conference.
What kind of opponent do you expect to face?
"I have watched Rio Ave's previous matches, especially the first three. We can see that they are well-organized, have high-level players, and know what they want... Although this is just for reference, they have one more day to prepare for this game than us. This will be a difficult match, and we need the home advantage, which is very important. The team is growing; emotionally, building a connection with the fans at home may be an important resonance for us when facing a tough opponent."
What has your experience been like in the four training sessions since taking over Benfica?"Benfica has some advantages carried over from the past, and my intention is not to look for negative issues from the past. The people who were here before did a good job, but we coaches are different. What matters is that the players can accept new ideas. The players who have stayed and are in the transition period also have to adapt to the new coach, so I have always said that we will introduce new things gradually. I feel that they are accepting my working style and leadership style. From a tactical perspective, we must proceed step by step."
What is the biggest difficulty you have encountered at Benfica?"
It's the lack of preparation time. I felt a little more relieved today and yesterday. It's important not to overload them with information. If you are willing to believe me, that's great; if not, there's nothing I can do. During the summer, I had no contact with Benfica's president or any authorized agents, and the sports director wasn't even with Benfica at that time. I had a contract with Fenerbahçe and intended to see it through to the end. It never crossed my mind that I would return to Portugal as a club coach. I also had no contact with the Portuguese Football Federation, and my contact with Benfica was zero. A few years ago, I had some contact with Benfica, but the conditions weren't mature at that time. When Benfica lost to Qarabağ, my wife and I were in Barcelona. The next day, the president called me and asked, 'Coach, is it worth us having a talk? I hope you can come and coach Benfica. Can we talk?' I said yes, and that's how things happened. If you are willing to believe me, I thank you. If you want to hype up a story that doesn't exist at all, there's nothing I can do."
Did you personally make a financial concession to join Benfica?
"If I stayed at home until the end of the season, I would earn more than working at Benfica. Going to see my family, visiting the Algarve, traveling around... I can't even say I'm working here for free; I'm actually losing money here. Why? Because I really love working, and I miss competing for championships and fighting for Benfica's goals. This is an excellent opportunity for me both as a coach and as an individual. I want to test myself, take risks, and face wins and losses. These things nourish me and take me out of my comfort zone. If I stayed at home until June, I would earn more than working at Benfica. Regarding the reception, I have been to the Estádio da Luz many times. In good times, I was also in a box, where there were the fathers of António Silva and João Neves—they are all very calm people. I am familiar with this stadium; you learn those songs, which are beautiful, rhythmic, and meaningful. That must be the home atmosphere. Maybe I'm a purist, but I don't believe there is a Benfica fan who doesn't want to win. Like when we lost to Qarabağ, people couldn't accept that. At the end of a game, there should either be celebrations or respect for those who gave their all."
During your time at Benfica so far, has any player with influence in the locker room surprised you?
"This is a team made up of kids, and among them, there is a world champion—he is the captain. In some clubs, the captain's armband isn't on the right person's arm, and I have encountered that before, but this time it's on someone who is truly a captain and leads by example. What surprises me are the players from the youth academy, whether they are older or younger. These players share a common philosophy... They carry the mark of Benfica's academy and a sense of responsibility. They are kids who love each other and grew up together. They are very united in the locker room, even the players who don't get to play. I want to send a message to the youth academy: we must thank them because that's where these players come from."
Is your hoarse voice a reflection of the intensity of training? How long will it take for the team to play according to your philosophy?"(Hoarsely) My voice is the voice of work, just like tanned skin—only on my face and hands. This is because I am personally involved in everything right now; I talk a lot, but it will recover in two or three days. Regarding the philosophy? It will never be fully finalized; it is always evolving, not something static. The pre-season is a time to train twice a day and lay the foundation, but evolution is gradual. When preparing for this game, we have added some elements carried over from the last game, but Rio Ave's style of play is different from AVS... We have to adapt. The resonance we are building with each other, and the fact that the players are accepting it well, may accelerate this process."
Will Dodi Lukebakio be able to make a comeback?
"The team needs a winger, and this choice is good because he can play on the right or left wing. He is a player with great potential. We didn't originally expect him to play tomorrow; we planned to have him only prepare for the game against Gil Vicente. But the current shortage of personnel means he can be available. He will be on the bench, and if we need him to play, he will come on."
Would you have accepted the invitation if it had come from André Villas-Boas or Luís Filipe Vieira? What are your comments on the Fenerbahçe election?
"The Fenerbahçe election has nothing to do with me; I have no connection to it. If you ask me if I am happy that the president wasn't re-elected, I am not. My time there was short, the intensity was low, and there was a lack of resonance and passion. For the players who stayed there, I wish them all the best. Regarding the conversations with President Vieira and President Villas-Boas, they were very simple—something like 'Good luck, but I hope you finish second in the end'. If I had received the invitation from them back then, honestly, I don't know if I would have accepted it, but I definitely wouldn't have agreed as quickly as I did with Benfica."
Have you had any contact with any of the Benfica presidential candidates?
"I haven't talked to any of them, and I don't think I should. The head coach of Benfica should focus on the team. The president and the board represent the millions of supporters of the club, and the head coach should work for these millions of people. If you ask me if I am happy that the candidates have made remarks showing respect, my answer is yes. But I stay out of that context. I hope to give my all every day, and the current president is Rui Costa—he took the important step of inviting me to work for Benfica. As time goes by, the focus will return to Benfica itself, and that's the key."
