Mourinho Sees Red: Accusations of Betrayal Mar Benfica’s Draw with Porto
The hotly contested draw between Benfica and his former club Porto on Sunday evening was overshadowed by a heated exchange that saw Benfica manager Jose Mourinho sent off and later express his deep disappointment with Porto coach Lucho Gonzalez. The Portuguese tactician, now at the helm of his native Benfica, labelled Gonzalez’s repeated accusations of him being a “traitor” as an attack on his professionalism, demanding an explanation for the inflammatory remarks.
Mourinho, a figure synonymous with success at Porto, was visibly incensed by the events that unfolded during the 2-2 stalemate. The flashpoint occurred in the second half, leading to his dismissal from the dugout. While the official reason cited was kicking a ball towards the opposition bench, Mourinho vehemently denies this, claiming it was an attempt to celebrate with the fans. However, the post-match fallout centred on the personal barbs directed at him by Gonzalez.
A “Traitor” by Any Other Name?
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Mourinho laid bare his frustration. “Regarding the sending off, the FC Porto bench person who was also sent off called me a traitor 50 times in the tunnel,” he revealed. “I’d like him to explain: traitor to what?”
Mourinho’s career has been a whirlwind of success, taking him from Porto to global footballing giants like Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Fenerbahce. He argued that his commitment to every club has been absolute. “I was at FC Porto, I gave my soul to FC Porto,” he stated. “I went to Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce, I turned things around. I gave my all to the world, my soul, my life every day. That’s what professionalism is all about.”
He contrasted the behaviour of passionate fans with that of a fellow professional. “Insults from fans are one thing. And that’s football. These are the same fans who, years ago, I couldn’t walk in the city with, who knelt at my feet. Now they insult me. No problem. But a fellow professional calling me a traitor? A traitor to what? To giving everything to Benfica?”
Mourinho made it clear that such accusations strike at the core of his professional integrity. “If tomorrow I leave Benfica and go elsewhere, I’ll do the same. A traitor to what? I didn’t like it.”
The Red Card Controversy
Beyond the verbal sparring, Mourinho also addressed the circumstances surrounding his own dismissal. He firmly believes the decision was unjust and attributes blame to the fourth official. “I was wrongly sent off,” he insisted. “The fourth official did a terrible job throughout the game and continues to do so when I told the referee that.”
Mourinho, who has a history of touchline confrontations and subsequent red cards, elaborated on the incident involving the ball. “Regarding the sending off, two things,” he explained. “The referee says he sent me off because I kicked a ball towards the FC Porto bench, which is completely false.”
He described his action as a celebratory gesture, not a malicious act. “I don’t know if it was three, four or five times, but I’ve done it many times at the Luz stadium – after we scored, the ball went into the stands. A way to celebrate and give the ball to the lucky fan. I know I’m not very good technically, but it was meant for the stands.”
Gonzalez’s Persistent Accusations
Mourinho expressed his bewilderment at the sheer repetition of Gonzalez’s “traitor” jibe. “It wasn’t just once, it was 20 or 30 times,” the 63-year-old continued. He questioned Gonzalez’s own career path, asking, “When he went to Marseille, was he a traitor? A traitor to what?”
The Benfica manager lamented the nature of the insult, feeling it was a personal attack on his work ethic. “He could have insulted me in a way that I would have accepted better, but I think it was an attack on my professionalism, which is something I value so much.”
Mourinho concluded by reiterating his belief in giving his absolute best to any team he manages. “Wherever we are, we go all out. I was a little disappointed in the sense that he’s a professional like me, he’s played for different teams. I didn’t understand the traitor thing.” The draw itself, while a point gained against a familiar adversary, was ultimately overshadowed by the personal animosity that flared on the touchline.
