Lack of character: Mourinho tears into his own players

Lack of character: Mourinho tears into his own players

José Mourinho’s 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, “The Special One” 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.

“At the moment, there are certain players I no longer want to see on the pitch. I simply don’t 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,” 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: “Some seem to have lost touch with reality, as if they were not living for football.”

Mourinho became even clearer in his assessment: “There 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.”

Despite a curious statistic — Benfica are still the only unbeaten team in the league after 28 matchdays — 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: “We have thrown away the chances we still had to become champions and to fight for the title until the end.”

The target for the final stretch of the season has shifted radically. It is no longer about silverware, but about bare survival among Europe’s elite. Only second place guarantees qualification for the Champions League playoffs. If Benfica remain in third, they risk dropping into the Europa League — a scenario that, after the dropped points against Casa Pia, Mourinho no longer believes is in their own hands.

“We have also lost control over reaching second place — 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.”

So in Lisbon, there is anything but harmony heading into the final stage of the season. The coming weeks will show whether Mourinho’s 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 🇩🇪 here.