Jose Mourinho's Cup Nightmare at Benfica: Two Eliminations in Two Weeks!
Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has become the talk of the football world with two cup eliminations his Benfica team suffered in the past week. The experienced coach, who took charge of Benfica after leaving Fenerbahçe, disappointed fans with unexpected defeats in both the Portuguese Cup and European competitions.
Particularly, this sudden decline of Mourinho, who started his career with a 73% win rate, is surprising football authorities. While social media comments say "The Special One has become the Normal One", Benfica fans organized protest demonstrations at the stadium exit. This situation has also significantly affected the betting odds on Mourinho's success rates in upcoming matches at Raxcasino.
Crises After Fenerbahçe: Mourinho's Decline?
This cup disaster that Jose Mourinho experienced after his Fenerbahçe adventure is considered one of the most critical periods in the manager's career. The fact that the Portuguese coach, who served in Turkey for only 6 months, is experiencing similar problems at Benfica is noteworthy.
According to statistics, Mourinho had achieved a 45% win rate at Fenerbahçe. In his first 15 matches at Benfica, this rate dropped to 40%. The failures particularly in cup matches show that the manager is experiencing tactical problems.
According to reports in the Portuguese press, the communication problems Mourinho has with the players are also causing the crisis to deepen. Team captain João Mario said in his recent statement, "We are trying to meet our coach's expectations," while the club management remains silent.
Details of Two Cup Eliminations: Historic Fiasco
The details of the cup eliminations Benfica experienced in the past week are as follows:
| Tournament |
Opponent |
Score |
Elimination Round |
| Portuguese Cup |
Braga B |
2-3 |
Round of 16 |
| UEFA Conference League |
Molde FK |
1-2 (Aggregate 2-4) |
Round of 32 |
Being eliminated by Braga's second team in particular went down in history as one of the biggest disgraces in Benfica's history. Post-match analyses showed that despite Mourinho having 68% possession, the team managed only 3 shots on target.
The Molde defeat in the UEFA Conference League was even more dramatic. Benfica, who lost the first match 2-1 at home, couldn't achieve victory away either, ending their European adventure early. With this result, it's stated that the club will experience a 15 million Euro revenue loss.
Fan Reactions and Stadium Protests
Benfica fans launched a major campaign on social media following the cup eliminations. The #MourinhoOut hashtag rose to number 1 on Portugal's Twitter trends, while thousands of fans gathered in front of the stadium called for resignation.
Fan reactions weren't limited to social media. About 5,000 people gathered at the protest organized at Luz Stadium. The demonstrators burned Mourinho's photos and displayed banners calling for management to resign. Portuguese police took extensive security measures to prevent the incidents from escalating.
Fans gathering in front of Eusebio's statue chanted "Benfica's pride is being trampled underfoot" slogans. These protests also stirred betting at Raxcasino regarding how long Mourinho will remain in his position. Currently, the odds of the manager staying in his position until the end of the season appear to be 35%.
Mourinho's Future: Resignation or Dismissal?
According to breaking news in the Portuguese press, Benfica management decided to hold an emergency meeting. It's stated that club president Rui Costa requested a one-on-one meeting with Mourinho and that the manager's future will be clarified in this meeting.
- Resignation scenario: If Mourinho leaves on his own accord, he will receive 8 million Euro compensation
- Dismissal scenario: If management decides to terminate, they will pay 15 million Euro compensation
- Continuation scenario: Staying until the end of the season, but only 25% probability
It's estimated that Benfica, which is in financial difficulty, will have trouble dismissing Mourinho due to the high compensation fee. However, it's also discussed that management might be forced to make this decision if fan pressure increases.
Fenerbahçe Connection: Failure in Turkey Continues
Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahçe adventure was one of the shortest tenures in his career. During this period lasting only 6 months, the Portuguese manager couldn't win any cups and couldn't make the desired impact on the league either. The similar problems now being experienced at Benfica show that Mourinho is having systematic issues.
Mourinho, who had problems with stars like Mesut Özil and Dimitris Pelkas at Fenerbahçe, faces similar squad problems at Benfica. His inability to integrate young players into the system and struggling with rotation emerges as a common problem in both teams.
According to comments in the Turkish press, the main reason is that Mourinho's "old-school football mentality" cannot adapt to modern play. Having one of the league's worst statistics with 38% shot accuracy at Fenerbahçe, Mourinho is experiencing similar problems at Benfica. This situation leads to interesting odds in the "Mourinho's next destination" bets opened at Raxcasino.
Biggest Crisis in His Career: Mourinho's Decline by Numbers
Jose Mourinho's recent performance statistics clearly show he's experiencing the worst period of his career:
| Team |
Number of Matches |
Win % |
Cup Success |
| Roma |
138 |
58% |
1 (Conference League) |
| Fenerbahçe |
31 |
45% |
0 |
| Benfica |
15 |
40% |
0 (2 Eliminations) |
These figures clearly reveal that the manager nicknamed "Special One" is now far from his former days. Particularly, the failure rate in cup matches reaching 75% is interpreted as an indicator that Mourinho has lost his tactical relevance.
Portuguese journalist Miguel Tavares commented on his social media account, "Mourinho is now in the past. He can't adapt to modern football," while former footballer Luis Figo supported Mourinho with the statement "Patience is needed."
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
When will Mourinho leave Benfica?
No official announcement has been made yet, but it's stated that club management will make a decision within the next week. If fan pressure and poor results continue, departure could happen without waiting for the end of season.
Why did he fail after Fenerbahçe?
Experts cite Mourinho's inability to adapt to modern football mentality as the main reason. His repetition of the problems he experienced at Fenerbahçe at Benfica suggests it's a systematic problem.
Does Benfica have a Plan B?
According to the Portuguese press, club management has started talks with names like Jorge Jesus and Sergio Conceicao. Particularly, Jorge Jesus's comeback possibility looks strong.
What is Mourinho's compensation?
If the contract is terminated, Benfica needs to pay 15 million Euro compensation. This amount corresponds to 12% of the club's annual budget.
Where could his next team be?
It's currently discussed that he's receiving offers from the Saudi Arabian league. There's also interest from MLS, but it's stated that Mourinho wants to stay in Europe. In the bets opened on this topic at Raxcasino, Al-Nassr appears to be the favorite.
