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Mourinho punishes Benfica squad after painful cup exit

Published

3 months ago

January 9, 2026

Mourinho punishes Benfica squad by keeping players in camp after a painful League Cup semi-final defeat to Braga

Benfica head coach José Mourinho has ordered his players to remain at the club’s Seixal training ground following a damaging 3-1 defeat to Braga in the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals.

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The decision came after Benfica were eliminated on Wednesday, finishing the match with 10 men following the dismissal of defender Nicolás Otamendi, the former Manchester City centre-back.

The loss denied the Lisbon club a place in the final and deepened a frustrating spell under the Portuguese manager.

Speaking at his post-match news conference, as reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Mourinho said the squad would stay at the Seixal base for several days, with training sessions scheduled despite the absence of a weekend fixture.

José Mourinho explained that the players would sleep at the training facility and return to the pitch immediately.

He confirmed that training would take place on Thursday and continue the following day, noting that Benfica’s next match is a crucial league clash against Porto next Wednesday.

The 61-year-old manager said he wanted his players to reflect deeply on the defeat rather than enjoy time off.

He added that he hoped they would spend the night thinking about their performance, stressing that he expected the same level of discomfort he felt after the loss.

Mourinho was appointed Benfica manager in September and is currently in his first season in charge.

The League Cup exit represents a significant setback as pressure mounts ahead of the upcoming encounter with rivals Porto.

José Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000, although his first spell at the club lasted only 10 matches before ending following a dispute with the club’s president.