Mourinho breaks his silence: “It wasn’t easy to manage everything that has happened and continues to happen...”

José Mourinho kept things tightly controlled ahead of Benfica’s upcoming league match against AVS. The Portuguese manager spoke exclusively to Benfica TV (BTV), once again skipping questions from the rest of the national media—a habit he has repeated several times since arriving in Lisbon.

Even so, Mourinho couldn’t avoid referencing the emotional weight still lingering from Benfica’s first‑leg clash with Real Madrid.

“It hasn’t been easy to manage everything that has happened and continues to happen,” he said, describing the mental state of his squad after the intense showdown at Estádio da Luz.

“A demanding match in every sense”

Mourinho went deeper into the toll of those 90 minutes against Real Madrid: “The match was incredibly demanding in every aspect. Until about the 50th minute, it was played at maximum intensity—physically, tactically, and with the level of concentration required to compete at that level,” he explained.

He then acknowledged the emotional strain that has lingered since the final whistle: “From the moment the match ended until now—and the conversation isn’t over—it hasn’t been easy to manage emotionally everything that has happened and continues to happen.”

But he quickly shifted focus to the domestic challenge ahead. “Tomorrow’s match (Saturday against AVS) is important for our ambitions and our dreams. Winning is fundamental. We need to be focused and at our highest level.”

Aursnes doubtful for return leg at the Bernabéu

Mourinho also revealed a significant concern ahead of the second leg at the Bernabéu: Fredrik Aursnes may not be available.

“Gianluca Prestianni is suspended for the league match, and I have no problem saying that Fredrik Aursnes will have to stop so we can have at least some hope of him playing in Madrid,” Mourinho said. “He’s not in condition to play tomorrow.”

The coach added that Benfica will need to adjust, but without losing sight of the urgency of the league fixture: “We’ll make some changes, but always keeping in mind that it’s a difficult match and we have to win.”

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