Jose Mourinho faces a major crisis at his new club

Jose Mourinho is dealing with a severe crisis at Benfica after a large number of players and coaching personnel tested positive for a virus right before the big clash with Porto in Liga Portugal.

Ahead of the upcoming "Portuguese El Clásico" against Porto this Sunday, Benfica unexpectedly encountered a major shock as many players and coaching members were affected by a strange virus outbreak. According to Portuguese media, even head coach Jose Mourinho showed similar symptoms.

The A Bola reported that several Benfica players began experiencing fever, headaches, and muscle aches just days after their 0-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This forced the club’s medical team to urgently monitor and assess each individual’s condition as the team prepared for a season-defining match.

Notably, Mourinho had previously revealed he suffered a mild fever before the Chelsea game but thought it was just a common cold. However, recent developments suggest the issue might be spreading within Benfica’s locker room, raising concerns about potential player shortages for the upcoming away match at Dragao stadium.

This upcoming match holds special significance for Mourinho, who led Porto to the Champions League title in 2004. After 21 years, the "Special One" returns to face his former club while Porto currently leads the league by 4 points over Benfica and has won all 7 of their Liga Portugal matches in a row.

Since Mourinho took charge, Benfica has only managed one win and one draw in the domestic league. Therefore, this outbreak comes at a critical moment, delivering a severe blow to the red team's ambitions to keep pace in the title race.

Benfica has not yet released the list of affected players, but it is clear that the timing of this incident is extremely unfavorable as they desperately need a positive result to maintain hope in the championship battle against their arch-rivals Porto.