“Former Benfica vice-president criticizes Rui Costa in explosive statement.”

The storm that has hit Sport Lisboa e Benfica shows no signs of abating. Following the humiliating elimination from the League Cup in the semi-finals, where Braga inflicted a resounding 3-1 defeat, former vice-president Jaime Antunes did not hold back in his criticism of Rui Costa’s leadership. In incisive statements to Renascença, Antunes raised the alarm about the current situation of the club, which finds itself alarmingly ten points behind the league leader, FC Porto. The pressure is high, and dissenting voices are not long in coming.

“It is unacceptable for Benfica to be in great difficulty in the league, ten points behind the leader, struggling in the Champions League and out of the League Cup,” Antunes lamented, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. With the Portuguese Cup approaching, where Benfica will face FC Porto in the quarter-finals, Antunes reminded that the club has not won this trophy since 2017, a drought that weighs heavily on the glorious history of the eagles.

The former official emphasized that the responsibility for the current crisis lies squarely with Rui Costa. “There were elections not long ago, the Board was elected by a large margin. The president has all the tools to take the necessary measures to put Benfica back to winning. The responsibility always lies with the president; he leads the club, chooses the coaches, and decides on investments in players,” he stated, underscoring that Benfica’s problem does not lie in individual players but rather in “wrong strategies, throwing money at problems.”

Antunes did not stop there and launched a bold provocation by stating that “José Mourinho is now the president of Benfica. He is the one who effectively has the reins of football, he is the one who defines what is done, the investments that are made, and therefore, we will see if results are presented.” The former vice-president did not hesitate to downplay the figure of Mário Branco, stating that “he doesn’t count,” which raises unsettling questions about the command structure at the club.

The situation at Benfica is critical, and Jaime Antunes’ words resonate as a call to action. With an uncertain future and questionable performance, the pressure on Rui Costa and the new Board increases every day. Fans demand answers and results, and the upcoming match against FC Porto could be the turning point the club desperately needs. Benfica’s history is at stake, and the urgency for a turnaround has never been more pressing.