Mourinho skillfully handles the controversy in Portugal

Jose Mourinho has officially been unveiled at Benfica and promptly addressed concerns to calm Porto supporters after some comments at the launch stirred controversy.

Jose Mourinho’s official debut at Benfica attracted significant attention. His initial remarks displeased many Porto fans, prompting the 62-year-old coach to quickly reassure them during the press conference. "I did not come to Benfica to trouble Porto. I came to Benfica to embrace the opportunity to lead an ambitious club once again," Mourinho affirmed, also emphasizing his continued respect for his former club.

Earlier, the Portuguese coach expressed pride while praising his new team. At Benfica’s unveiling, “The Special One” stated: "I want to tell you that no club I have coached before has excited me more than becoming Benfica’s manager,".

He also conveyed a strong message of commitment: "My promise is clear: I will live for Benfica, for my mission. This is a tremendous honor."

Because of his enthusiastic praise for Benfica, Mourinho was accused of neglecting Porto — the club where he began his brilliant coaching career and won major titles.

Noticing this might cause tension, he quickly clarified: "Saying Benfica is one of the world’s biggest clubs doesn’t mean Porto isn’t. If asked whether Porto is a giant club, my answer is yes. FC Porto is a very important part of my history, and I am also a significant part of FC Porto’s history."

With careful word choice, Mourinho managed to preserve his image among Benfica fans while avoiding offending Porto supporters — who still regard him as an icon. Nonetheless, he candidly acknowledged reality: "I know there won’t be a warm welcome for me when I return there," referring to the anticipated tense away match at Porto’s Dragao stadium on October 5th.

While the public continues to discuss, Mourinho and Benfica have swiftly begun preparations for upcoming league matches. Their immediate goal is to stay competitive in the title race while building a distinct playing style under the new regime.

The focus of Portuguese football fans is now on October 5th, when Benfica will visit the Dragao stadium. This intense rivalry between two of the country’s most successful clubs will be further heated by Mourinho’s return wearing Benfica colors.