José Mourinho reveals collapse in crucial match: “it was a disaster.”

The perfect storm descended upon the Estádio da Luz, and the consequences were devastating for Benfica. In the second semifinal of the Taça da Liga, the encarnados were defeated by Braga, a result that left the team led by José Mourinho in shock. After the final whistle, Mourinho did not hesitate to deliver scathing criticisms, describing his team’s performance as a “collapse,” a “disaster” that could not be ignored.

“This is one of those games where there is unanimity. There was a collapse, a disaster,” Mourinho stated, with frustration evident. The Portuguese coach analyzed the match, highlighting that the game was divided into two distinct halves. “The first half is too bad, inexplicably, for a team that started well. We came out pressing, winning the ball, immediately creating a great goal-scoring opportunity. And then, inexplicably, with the penalty awarded, which was later overturned by VAR and should have been a moment of a positive ‘boost’, there was a collapse.”

Mourinho’s dissatisfaction was not limited to a superficial analysis. He harshly criticized the technical errors made by his players, which were “absolutely incredible.” During a critical period of the game, three players failed to execute basic passes, losing possession in situations that should have been controlled. “We made incredible mistakes from a technical point of view. Then, from a ‘willpower’, emotional perspective, weak. The duels, the first balls, the second balls, weak,” lamented the coach.

While the first half was marked by an overall negative performance, Mourinho highlighted that the second half brought a radical change. “In the second half, Braga, which is a team that plays well, that likes to have the ball, that likes to hide the ball, never did that. Benfica pressed, stole, pressed, stole, and played, and played, and played.” However, Mourinho was clear: “Anyone who plays as poorly as we did in the first half deserves to lose.”

The criticism was not limited to the collective performance. The coach also addressed the poor individual displays, mentioning the substitution of Manu at halftime. “I wasn’t referring, obviously, to Manu. I confess that the team in the second half was stronger without Manu. But Manu is not the cause of our poor first half.” The serious injury that affected Manu was a concern, but Mourinho argued that the weakness of the first half was not solely due to that absence.

When asked about the lack of intensity and focus from the players, Mourinho did not find easy answers. “I can’t respond. If you were to ask me how I personally approached the game… I would say like everyone else, maybe a little more, but like everyone else.” Frustration grew when he revealed that the players were not receptive to dialogue after the defeat. “Obviously, I didn’t feel any receptiveness from them for dialogue. The sadness is great, and no one wanted to engage in a conversation with me,” he lamented.

The 1-3 defeat was a heavy blow for a Benfica side that hoped to shine at home. The disastrous performance left fans in shock and raised questions about the team’s ability to handle pressure in decisive moments. Mourinho, with his experience and determination, knows that the response to the crisis must be swift and effective. Benfica’s future in national competitions now hinges on the team’s ability to bounce back after this humiliating setback.