João Tralhão maintains that “flawless coordination” existed with Jose Mourinho the previous evening, asserting that the Benfica manager’s non-attendance on the sidelines played no part in their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.
Tralhão effectively acted as the head coach at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Mourinho was serving a single-match suspension due to his red card received during the initial leg of the Champions League play-off held in Lisbon the previous week.
Mourinho, prevented from occupying a spot on the bench, had a designated area within a radio booth at the venue; however, reports indicate he remained on the team’s coach and observed the match from that location.
The extent of his influence on the match itself remains unclear, but Tralhão states that this circumstance did not impede the Portuguese club.
Speaking to the club’s official online platform, he declared: “The coordination was impeccable. We were ready. Clearly, this was not a scenario we desired. José Mourinho wished not to be excluded from the fixture. We perceived it as an unjust circumstance, yet our coordination was impeccable.
“We have consistently foreseen various eventualities. This is plainly a novel situation for the current season. We had not contemplated our coach being absent, but he was indeed suspended, so we accounted for that possibility.
“The coordination was ideal from the outset of this preparation; it stayed ideal today, and the judgments, self-evidently – as I had mentioned – invariably originate from the coach, though invariably backed by his technical personnel.”
Mourinho pleased with the display
Benfica equalized the overall score when Rafa Silva nudged them into the lead after merely 14 minutes, but Aurelien Tchouaméni netted an almost immediate leveling goal, and Vinicius Jr contributed a decisive late goal, allowing Madrid to advance to the round of 16 with a 3-1 aggregate.
“We believe we generated sufficient opportunities today,” Tralhão further stated. “I have just conversed with José Mourinho; we are exceptionally proud of our showing, extremely proud of our squad. The athletes were phenomenal.
“We are disheartened by the outcome, precisely for that reason. We asserted control from the outset, we scored, we allowed a goal contrary to the flow of the game, as was apparent, yet we preserved our distinct identity, we upheld our resolve, we sustained our victorious mindset.
“The match was determined by minor intricacies. We had the potential to score; we fashioned ample chances to do so. Real Madrid undeniably possesses a formidable squad, but they had a colossal presence in goal [Thibaut Courtois] who prevented us from seizing the openings we had, though we depart feeling proud of our squad.”