The coach says Benfica played a good game against Sporting Braga and that efficiency was the deciding factor. He also defends the players’ character.
Jose Mourinho, Benfica’s coach, speaking to reporters after the Eagles’ draw with Sp. Braga:
Analysis of the draw against Sp. Braga
Benfica played a good game. I wouldn’t say very good only because we didn’t win, and that could be a bit contradictory. But it was a good game, clearly deserving of a win. Benfica was the team that played more, attacked more, and created more chances. But they were less efficient, and efficiency matters. They had three or four shots and only two on target.
We had 25 shots and I would say that about ten of them were real shots and not just shots for the statistics. We had many goal opportunities and, I repeat, I only don’t say it was a very good game because we didn’t win. But it was a good game from a collective and individual point of view. (…) We were much stronger, but we didn’t win.
My feeling is one of satisfaction regarding the players’ effort and the quality they brought to the field. I am not disappointed with my players. Not at all!
Regarding the issue of refereeing decisions and the tension among the players, who were irritated right from the start of the game: does this, along with the tension coming from the stands, affect the team?
I think it’s very difficult to do what they’ve done throughout the season. Despite many challenges, they never lost their commitment, professionalism, perseverance, and resilience. And the fact that we’re one matchday from the end and the team hasn’t lost a single game reflects the team’s character. Obviously, we had a couple of games where, through our own fault, we didn’t have the right attitude individually or collectively. There are a couple of games where neither I nor the players liked them. Putting aside those two games, in this final third we’ve had extraordinary games, like the game against Sporting, the game in Famalicão while it was a game, and today we had periods pushing Sp. Braga back. In terms of intensity and performance, the team has grown a lot.
But it’s difficult to feel things and keep fighting. And they [the players] felt things throughout the season, and it’s not easy. That’s why I give them credit for their resilience and attitude. I just told them: obviously there will be criticism and negative adjectives regarding the team, the players, and the coach. But what people say is one thing, and what we feel is another. And these players, at least from the point of view of attitude, also quality, but fundamentally at the level of what dignifies men, which is humility and respect, are an untouchable group. It’s a group I had a lot of fun with, and I always went to training happy to be with them and always left training happy to have worked with them. It’s a good group of men.