07.04.2026 16:30
Jose Mourinho, who manages Benfica, criticized not only the referee but also his own players harshly after the draw against Casa Pia. The Portuguese coach expressed his dissatisfaction with some of his players, saying, "I am playing some of them just to sell them so that we don't have to see them next season."
Jose Mourinho, who manages Benfica in the Portuguese League, suffered a significant blow in the championship race by leaving the field with a draw in the match against Casa Pia. The Portuguese coach's statements after the match made a strong impact.
THIS TIME, THE REFEREES ARE NOT THE ONLY TARGET
Since the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho has frequently targeted referees, but this time he also scolded his own players. The experienced coach harshly criticized his players, almost challenging them.
''THERE ARE NAMES IN THE TEAM THAT...''
Reacting to the lack of seriousness from his players, Mourinho said, "Today we didn't just lose two points; we also lost our last chances for the championship fight. The strings for the second place are no longer in our hands. I didn't like the first half at all. I explained what we needed to change tactically during the halftime. Because there are names in the team that seem like they don't live and breathe football... Sometimes they seem to forget the realities. During halftime, I did a little math for them. I clearly explained that if we can't win this match, our dream of the championship will end, and we will become dependent on others even for second place."
"I CONDEMN THE REFEREE!"
The experienced coach also criticized the referee, saying, "We played well enough to win the match, but sometimes such matches happen. You play against teams that only want to draw. I don't blame my opponents; it's normal for them to play with hunger to avoid relegation and earn a point. I condemn the referee who allowed this. I condemn that gentleman who gave six minutes of stoppage time in such a match. I was deeply disappointed; I didn't like any of the three teams on the field (the two teams and the referee trio). Casa Pia fought for a point. The referee may not have directly affected the result, but he disrupted the flow of the game by managing it poorly. As Benfica, we lost the match and the championship due to a carelessness that you shouldn't have when leading 1-0."
''I PLAY SOME TO SELL THEM AND NOT SEE THEM''
Turning the arrows of criticism back to his players, Mourinho said, "I say it clearly; there are some players I no longer want to see on the field. I don't want them to wear the jersey anymore, but they are assets of this club. Even if I want to sell them, I have to maintain their market value. I am playing some just to sell them so that I won't have to see them next season.''