Mourinho denies rumors: Did not kick the bench of FC Porto during the celebrations.

Tension ran high at the Estádio da Luz during the thrilling clash between Benfica and FC Porto, where a simple goal became a significant point of controversy. José Mourinho, the charismatic Benfica coach, found himself at the center of a storm following the exuberant celebrations of Leandro Barreiro’s equalizing goal. Referee João Pinheiro made the controversial decision to send Mourinho off, leading to a wave of speculation about what really transpired.

In an emotionally charged press conference, Mourinho vigorously defended himself. The referee claimed that the dismissal was due to a shot from the coach towards the FC Porto bench, but Mourinho did not hesitate to refute this assertion, calling it “completely false.” The coach explained that, as is customary in his celebrations, he kicked the ball towards the stands to offer a special moment to the fans who, as he admitted, are the true protagonists of the game. “I don’t know if it was three, four, or five times, but I’ve done it many times at the Luz: our goal, ball to the stands. A way to celebrate and give the ball to the lucky fan. I know I’m not technically very good, but it was meant for the stands,” Mourinho stated, visibly upset with the situation.

However, the truth of the captured images contradicts the referee’s claim, highlighting that Mourinho indeed kicked the ball into the stands and not towards the opposing bench. The atmosphere became even tenser when Lucho González, a member of the FC Porto coaching staff, approached the fourth official, which culminated in his own expulsion. The interaction did not end there, as Mourinho and González had a heated confrontation in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, where the Benfica coach was called a “traitor” on multiple occasions.

Mourinho, unfiltered, fervently responded to that accusation: “I would like him to explain to me: traitor of what? I was at FC Porto, I gave my soul to FC Porto. I went to Chelsea, to Inter, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, I traveled the world and gave my soul, my life every day. This is called professionalism.” He revealed that the Argentine forward could not contain himself and, in an agitated tone, repeated the insult several times, further provoking the coach’s anger.

This episode not only put José Mourinho in the spotlight but also reignited the historical rivalry between the two teams, showing that the classics in Portugal are more than just games; they are emotional battles that involve passion, rivalry, and, of course, a bit of drama. The unfolding of this story promises to remain a hot topic in fans’ conversations and in the sports press, as new clashes and emotions draw near.