Jose Mourinho Fires Shots at Referee After Benfica 1-1 Draw With Rio Ave
- José Mourinho has once again stolen the spotlight in Portugal with a fiery outburst after Benfica’s dramatic league clash
- The outspoken manager wasted no time stirring controversy, delivering scathing remarks that put refereeing decisions under the spotlight
- A late setback left Mourinho raging on the touchline, marking a turbulent start to his reign at the Portuguese giants
Benfica manager José Mourinho has wasted little time making headlines in Portugal after blasting referee Sérgio Guelho following his team’s 1-1 draw with Rio Ave on Tuesday, September 23.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach accused the official of lacking personality and claimed his decisions directly contributed to a result he described as tremendously unfair.
Source: Getty Images
Mourinho’s men looked on course for victory when Heorhiy Sudakov broke the deadlock in the 86th minute, but their win was cruelly snatched away as Rio Ave, yet to record a single victory this season, found an equaliser deep into stoppage time.
To make matters worse for the ex-Fenerbahce tactician, Benfica had earlier seen a goal disallowed at 0-0, something that left him seething at full-time.
Benfica denied victory by late Rio Ave equaliser
Jose was appointed Benfica coach only last week and endured his first taste of frustration in charge of the Lisbon giants.
His side dominated for long spells of the second half, pressing high and creating opportunities, but they were left to rue missed chances and VAR’s intervention on the chalked-off goal.
After Sudakov’s late strike appeared to seal all three points, Benfica were undone in stoppage time by a swift Rio Ave counterattack, as Andre Luiz netted in the 90th minute, according to Flashscore.
Meanwhile, for Mourinho, conceding in such a fashion was unacceptable, as cited by Record.
“We cannot allow that to happen. A team that is leading cannot give away a goal like that. We dropped two points because of it.”
Mourinho slams referee after Benfica-Rio Ave draw
Known for his fiery touchline persona, Jose Mourinho did not hold back in his post-match comments.
He argued that the referee’s leniency suited Rio Ave’s defensive approach and disrupted Benfica’s rhythm.
“It was the game that Rio Ave wanted, and the referee allowed it. If this is the new football, where a goal is cancelled because one small toe steps on another, I don’t like it.
''We tried everything, brought on fresh legs, but it was tremendously unfair. The referee has no personality.”
Source: Getty Images
Mourinho’s blunt criticism ensures that his return to Portuguese football is already box-office, and it sets the tone for what could be a turbulent yet compelling reign at Benfica.
Mourinho booked in Turkish Lig
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Jose Mourinho, then in charge of Fenerbahce, grabbed headlines in Turkey after being shown a yellow card during a league game.
The highly successful yet often divisive coach made headlines in Turkey after staging a bizarre laptop protest on the sidelines during a tense Super Lig clash with Antalyaspor.
Source: YEN.com.gh
