When questioned about the lack of information given to Benfica fans regarding his future, Jose Mourinho says that it is up to him to provide an answer, but adds that he is not in a position to do so.
José Mourinho, Benfica’s coach, speaking to journalists after the team’s draw with Sporting Braga. The coach was once again questioned about his future at the club and a possible move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
He said he enjoyed training with the players he coached this season, a response that sounded very much like a farewell. Don’t you think Benfica fans already deserve a clear answer from you about your future, or do you feel it’s not up to you to give that answer?
Of course, it’s up to me to give that answer. Have you ever seen me hide from my decisions, from my responsibilities? But nobody can force me to decide or communicate my decisions, because I’m the one who decides when. I’m not in a position to answer you. I’m not in a position to.
In my mind, ever since the talk of possibilities began, there was only one thing: to work and do my best, and I won’t stop until the game against Estoril. That’s the respect Benfica deserves and the respect my profession deserves. And nobody should touch that! Unless it’s some idiot who does, but in my professional dignity and my honesty and respect for a club like Benfica, nobody should touch that.
I have the right to isolate myself. I continue to say that I haven’t spoken to anyone from another club. Now there’s talk of Real Madrid, but it could be any other club. I haven’t spoken to anyone. From the moment we entered this final phase of the season, I think it made no sense to do anything other than concentrate on my job. Starting Sunday I will have the opportunity.
When I say it sounded like a farewell, it doesn’t sound like a farewell. It sounds like the respect I have for them [the players]. And it sounds like a preemptive defense, because football has these things. Football is very ungrateful many times, and being criticized today seems to me a great injustice. When I criticized them after Casa Pia, it came from my soul, from my heart. But it’s my nature: to always try to be fair with my players.
And today, the day when everyone thinks Benfica won’t finish second, is the day I have to defend them because I think they deserve it. And I’ll stop here because I don’t want to start next season suspended. There’s only one game and eight days left. Normally suspensions are 20, 30, 40 days, four games, five games.
But the punishment would only apply to the Portuguese League…
“Hmm… and even if it’s the Portuguese League, I’ve already experienced in Rome starting a season with a suspension from a previous season, and I confess it’s a strange situation and not a good one. It happened to me in the third season after the Europa League final. And it’s not good. Not only for me, but also for my club, calm down: there’s only a week left.