Mourinho turns up pressure on Benfica after League Cup defeat

January 9, 2026 Oliver Obel

Benfica’s League Cup campaign ended abruptly on Wednesday night, and José Mourinho wasted little time making his displeasure clear.

The 3-1 semi-final defeat to Braga in Leiria not only ruled Benfica out of Saturday’s final but also sharpened the focus on a squad under pressure domestically. Already trailing in the league and facing a demanding run of fixtures, the club left central Portugal with more questions than answers.

According to the Guardian, Mourinho told reporters after the match that his players would not be returning home, instead spending the night and the following days at Benfica’s Seixal training centre. The decision, he suggested, was as much about reflection as preparation.

Speaking late on Wednesday, the coach said the squad would remain at the complex and continue training immediately. He added that he hoped the players would struggle to sleep, preferring them to spend the night thinking about a performance he clearly found unacceptable.

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Those comments quickly drew attention in Portugal, prompting a response from Benfica president Rui Costa. He played down any suggestion of punishment, telling Portuguese media that the overnight stay had been arranged in advance as part of the club’s planning for upcoming matches.

With Benfica no longer involved in the League Cup final a competition often used by Portuguese clubs to maintain momentum during the season focus now shifts to next Wednesday’s Portuguese Cup quarter-final away to Porto. Mourinho confirmed that preparations for that tie would begin straight away.

On the pitch, Benfica’s problems were evident early. Despite being favoured to reach the final after Sporting’s earlier exit, they were second best for much of the first half. Braga capitalised, scoring twice before the break through Pau Víctor and Rodrigo Zalazar.

A penalty from Vangelis Pavlidis offered brief hope after the restart, but Braga responded decisively, with Gustaf Lagerbielke restoring their two-goal lead. Any remaining chance of a comeback faded when defender Nicólas Otamendi was sent off deep into stoppage time.

Mourinho was unsparing in his post-match assessment. He described the opening half as inexplicable and made clear that he saw the defeat as self-inflicted. He also raised doubts about whether any Benfica player should feel intimidated by the occasion of a domestic cup semi-final.

The message, delivered publicly and without much cushioning, was unmistakable: standards have slipped, and Mourinho expects an immediate response.

Sources: The Guardian