Jose Mourinho’s Benfica were completely outclassed by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle in the Champions League. The Portuguese side collapsed to a comprehensive 3-0 hammering, with their boss producing a moment on the evening that escaped the television cameras.
The Magpies swept aside their opponents at St James’ Park, with Anthony Gordon opening the scoring on 32 minutes. Harvey Barnes then struck twice after the break to seal a commanding victory. Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham head coach Mourinho had previously visited one of his former haunts, Stamford Bridge, in European competition last month and endured defeat there too, falling 1-0.
Gordon ripped apart the Benfica backline, yet it was gaffer Mourinho who was first to offer his congratulations when the final whistle sounded. The 62-year-old headed straight for Gordon as soon as the match concluded in a gesture that TNT Sports’ cameras missed, as he warmly greeted the UEFA Player of the Match.
Nevertheless, the Portuguese media have been considerably less kind regarding how the manager, who only assumed control in September, set up his squad.
Express Sport looks at some of the scathing press reactions to Benfica’s disappointing performance, with Mourinho facing backlash and further praise for a certain Newcastle winger.
‘Could have been even worse’.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola were unimpressed with Mourinho’s team’s display, with their match report bearing the headline: “Predator saw signs of weakness and went for the jugular.”
More precisely, it was the boss’s team selection that drew fierce condemnation.
Mourinho opted to field Tomas Araujo at left-back, despite the defender normally operating as a centre-half or occasionally on the right flank.
They wrote: “Mourinho adapted the team to Newcastle, not only by introducing Tomas Araujo to the left and Fredrik Aursnes ahead of him. But they often found themselves outnumbered on the flanks, a situation that persisted throughout the match.
“Respectively, Benfica couldn’t get a grip on the game, struggling to survive, looking like vulnerable prey, devoured by the predator. It was 3-0. It could have been even worse.”
‘Even more of a surprise’
Maisfutebol also launched a scathing attack on this tactical gamble from Mourinho, which was evidently designed to bolster things at the back but spectacularly backfired.
They wrote: “Mourinho brought Richard Rios back into midfield and, even more surprisingly, moved Tomas Araujo to the left side of the defence. The idea was to close down the flank when Newcastle attacked and pull the centre-back into the middle when Benfica won back possession.
“On paper, the plan sounded appealing, but the English didn’t hold back from putting it to the test persistently. It was primarily through this attack that they pressed forward, with Jacob Murphy and Kieran Trippier leaving Araujo and Aursnes constantly uncomfortable.
“In this intricate game of balance, it was Benfica’s left flank of the defence that eventually collapsed. Mourinho’s homecoming journey to England delivered no points for Benfica, who stay on zero in the Champions League table.”
‘Mourinho’s wall broken down’
TSF also launched an attack on the manager’s tactics with their headline declaring: “Mourinho’s wall broken down by the English: Benfica loses to Newcastle.”
They proved equally scathing of Benfica’s players regarding their display, stating: “Benfica returned from the break still shaking, falling asleep on the pitch.”
‘Insufficient when the bar is set higher’
Whilst some have directed blame towards Mourinho, O Jogo suggests that the squad he has inherited rather than the head coach who bears responsibility for this defeat and earlier disappointing outcomes.
They declared: “This Benfica wasn’t built by Jose Mourinho, and it won’t be possible to clean up the mess as quickly as Benfica fans would have hoped, at least until the squad can be reshuffled in the January transfer window.
“It’s most likely that the pragmatic, minimum-services version that has been available for domestic consumption will continue to emerge on the pitch, but it is clearly insufficient when the bar is set higher.”
‘Omnipresent in attack’
Maisfutebol were also swift to shower praise on one Newcastle star specifically; Gordon. The winger netted a goal and troubled Benfica’s defence repeatedly throughout the evening, with the publication offering glowing praise for his display.
Echoing Mourinho’s thoughts, they wrote about the England star: “He had the always interesting bonus of scoring a goal, but the England international’s performance went far beyond that.
“Omnipresent in Newcastle’s attack, he punished Tomas Araujo’s adaptation to the left, but also provided crucial support in the central zone. Near the end, he provided the assist for Barnes’s 3-0. A brutal match, complete with a goal to the applause of the fans.”