Mourinho downplays Bruno Lage’s compliments ahead of Benfica-Fenerbahçe clash
Jose Mourinho addressed the media ahead of the second leg of Benfica’s Champions League play-off against Fenerbahçe, reacting to Bruno Lage’s praise by saying such remarks are nothing more than goodwill. He stressed that the tie will be decided on the pitch and urged his team to stay focused for the decisive encounter.
In the preview for the Benfica-Fenerbahçe showdown, Mourinho tempered the noise around Lage’s compliments, insisting that praise from outside the dressing room carries little weight when the result is at stake. The second leg remains a high-stakes path to the Champions League group stage, with both teams aiming to secure advancement.
Lage’s remarks had offered an encouraging tone, but Mourinho framed the exchange as polite encouragement rather than a predictor of the outcome. The match promises to be tightly contested, with experience and tactical discipline likely to play pivotal roles.
Summary: The conversation around compliments from Bruno Lage was met with a grounded response from Mourinho, who reframed the praise as goodwill and focused on the task of securing a place in the Champions League group stage.
If you’d like, I can add a brief section noting potential tactical matchups to watch, or a viewer-friendly quick explainer of what’s at stake in the second leg.