Jose Mourinho is weighing up the opportunity of taking cost at Benfica following the dismissal of Bruno Lage, who was sacked after Tuesday’s 3-2 residence defeat to Qarabag within the Champions League.
Lage’s aspect surrendered a two-goal benefit in opposition to the Azerbaijani champions at Estadio da Luz, prompting swift motion from the membership hierarchy.
Benfica president Rui Costa confirmed they purpose to nominate a brand new head coach by Saturday however refused to verify whether or not Mourinho is the frontrunner.
“Benfica coach’s profile should be that of a winner,” Costa mentioned. “A coach representing a membership of this dimension should be one with the flexibility to deliver this group to the degrees we demand and provides us the titles we want. There’s no level in speaking about names right here. No coach has been appointed, nor has any coach been talked about to characterize Benfica sooner or later.”
Reviews recommend Mourinho is open to a return to Portuguese soccer, greater than twenty years after he first left to hitch Chelsea. The 61-year-old was dismissed by Fenerbahce on 29 August, shortly after Benfica eradicated the Turkish aspect within the Champions League play-offs.
Mourinho’s reference to Benfica goes again to 2000, when he managed the membership for simply 10 matches earlier than resigning amid a dispute with then-president Joao Vale e Azevedo.
He later established his fame with Porto, successful six trophies – together with the Champions League in 2004 – earlier than embarking on a high-profile profession throughout Europe with Chelsea, Inter Milan, Actual Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, and most just lately Fenerbahce.
If he had been to return, Mourinho may face one in every of his former golf equipment virtually instantly, with Benfica set to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 30 September. Their group stage additionally consists of journeys to Newcastle United and a house tie in opposition to Actual Madrid.
Domestically, Benfica sit sixth within the Primeira Liga, 5 factors behind leaders Porto with a sport in hand. They completed second final season underneath Lage, simply two factors behind champions Sporting.
The choice to half methods with Lage comes at a politically charged second for the membership, with presidential elections scheduled for 25 October.
Candidate Joao Noronha Lopes, broadly thought-about the favourite, is believed to be all for prising Ruben Amorim away from Manchester United, having watched him on the Etihad on Sunday.
Costa, nonetheless, denied that the managerial change was linked to the upcoming election. “I’m not right here to avoid wasting any positions,” he mentioned.
“I haven’t even gone anyplace to marketing campaign but, as a result of my purpose, as president of Benfica, is to make sure the perfect future for Benfica, no matter what occurs within the elections.
“And this decision-making has to do solely and completely with Benfica’s sporting season, and to keep away from jeopardising Benfica’s sporting season. I’ve by no means put my pursuits forward of Benfica’s, and I’m not going to take action now.”