“Mourinho reveals the secret of the 84th minute and surprises with confidence.”

After a convincing 4-0 victory against Estrela da Amadora in the 19th round of the Primeira Liga, Benfica coach José Mourinho did not hold back in praising the young talents who showcased their worth on the field. The official debut of Anísio Cabral, who came on in the 84th minute, was marked by a goal that sealed the victory, and the performance of Daniel Banjaqui, also a U17 World Champion, did not go unnoticed.

Mourinho did not hesitate to express his confidence in the abilities of both players: “I can say that I expected both of them [Daniel Banjaqui and Anísio Cabral] to have the level to play in Benfica’s first team. Obviously, I wanted to give rest to several players who have many minutes; I just can’t do it for all of them because I don’t have the assurance that all of them have ‘replicas’ ready to play.” The coach acknowledged that while Banjaqui brought speed and offensive quality to the team, Cabral’s introduction was equally predictable: “Anísio did not surprise me or any of the first-team players who had him in these last two training sessions because he does not deceive. I am obviously very happy for both of them, and I had no idea about the significance of the 84th minute.”

Benfica’s performance was characterized by a dominant first half, although not dazzling, in which the team created several goal opportunities. “I think it was a very well-executed second half. A dominant first half, without playing brilliantly, we created two or three very good goal opportunities, especially the one from Aursnes, which normally results in a goal,” Mourinho stated. The team’s dynamics improved in the second half with the introduction of Barreiro, who brought greater pressure and speed in transitions: “It was a well-executed second half. Objective achieved, which was to win; the second was to play well, and although we didn’t play spectacularly, it was a good game.”

The atmosphere at Estádio da Luz was electrifying, especially with the coincidence of Cabral’s goal occurring in the 84th minute, the same minute that marks the anniversary of the icon Eusébio. Mourinho emphasized the importance of this symbolic moment, celebrating both the victory and the performance of the club’s new talents. With this victory, Benfica solidifies its position in the league, leaving fans eager for what is still to come this season.

In summary, Mourinho continues to demonstrate his skill in integrating young talents into the first team, maintaining a focus on victory and the evolution of the game. With confidence in the new generations, Benfica’s future looks promising, and the anticipation for more brilliant performances from Banjaqui and Cabral is palpable.