
José Mourinho criticized his players' mentality and expressed that he no longer wants to see certain players on the pitch, citing financial reasons for their continued selection.
Mourinho is playing certain players to maintain their market value, as he believes it is easier to sell them if they are actively participating in matches.
The match ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw for Benfica, which prompted Mourinho's harsh criticism of his squad.
José Mourinho criticized his Benfica players after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Casa Pia, expressing frustration with their mentality. He revealed he is fielding certain players mainly for financial reasons to maintain their market value.
Lack of character: Mourinho tears into his own players
JosĂ© Mourinhoâs return to Portugal had definitely been imagined differently at Benfica. What was supposed to become a great success story is increasingly turning into a mudslinging battle. After the disappointing 1-1 draw against underdogs Casa Pia, âThe Special Oneâ finally ran out of patience.
In his usual manner, Mourinho did not mince his words after the final whistle and directly attacked the mentality of his squad. Particularly explosive: Mourinho openly admitted that he is only fielding certain players for financial reasons now.
âAt the moment, there are certain players I no longer want to see on the pitch. I simply donât want them to keep playing, but they are a valuable part of the club. Even if I want to sell them, it is easier if I play them in order to maintain their market value,â the Portuguese coach fumed.
For Mourinho, the problem seems to run deeper than a mere dip in form. He accuses parts of the team of lacking the right attitude toward professional sport. According to the coach, there is a divide within the squad between those who want to force success and those who have lost focus: âSome seem to have lost touch with reality, as if they were not living for football.â
Mourinho became even clearer in his assessment: âThere are players who are hungry for wins, and others who seem to be taking life too lightly. That makes me sad. They are not bad people or bad professionals, but they are seriously lacking in character.â
Despite a curious statistic â Benfica are still the only unbeaten team in the league after 28 matchdays â the club is in crisis. The reason is the total of nine draws, which weigh like defeats.
In view of these numbers, Mourinho has already officially given up on the title race: âWe have thrown away the chances we still had to become champions and to fight for the title until the end.â
The target for the final stretch of the season has shifted radically. It is no longer about silverware, but about bare survival among Europeâs elite. Only second place guarantees qualification for the Champions League playoffs. If Benfica remain in third, they risk dropping into the Europa League â a scenario that, after the dropped points against Casa Pia, Mourinho no longer believes is in their own hands.
âWe have also lost control over reaching second place â something that used to depend solely on us and now no longer depends only on us, but also on the results that may still happen. In other words, we have lost a lot because of this result.â
So in Lisbon, there is anything but harmony heading into the final stage of the season. The coming weeks will show whether Mourinhoâs public criticism gives the team the necessary jolt or whether it has definitively sealed the rift with the players.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in đ©đȘ here.
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