Mourinho's Arrival To Benfica Is Not To Fight With Porto And Sporting

Jose Mourinho did not want to disappoint his former FC Porto club (Instagram/@slbenfica).

JAKARTA - Jose Mourinho said he did not rejoin Benfica for the fight against his former club, FC Porto or Sporting CP.

The 62-year-old coach returned to Portuguese football last week, 21 years after leaving Porto to coach Chelsea.

"I don't think they (Porto and Sporting) will be angry if I say that after joining Benfica."

"I spoke with President (Porto) (Andre) Villas-Boas and President (Fremerico) Varandas of Sporting."

"If we have a good relationship, if we are friends and respect each other, the fact that I am coach of Benfica doesn't mean I came here to fight," Mourinho said after enjoying a good start at Benfica following the league's 3-0 win on Sunday, September 21, 2025 WIB, at home to AVS.

Mourinho angered Porto's supporters with comments he made during his introduction on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

He described his appointment at Benfica, the club he started his coaching career in 2000, as an extraordinary honor.

Mourinho also added that he had never previously handled a club that motivated more than being Benfica's coach.

The former Real Madrid captain then tried to defuse tensions with his former club on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

"I didn't come to Benfica to disappoint Porto. I came to Benfica to enjoy the opportunity to coach the club back with ambitions to win at a high level."

"I didn't come to disappoint anyone. By saying that Benfica is one of the biggest clubs in the world, I'm not saying Porto is not the biggest club."

"If someone asked me if Porto was one of the biggest clubs in the world, I would answer yes."

"If someone asks me if Porto is a giant club, I will answer yes. If someone asks if I, who is not a Benfica coach, have special affection for Porto, I will answer yes," said Mourinho again.

Mourinho estimates his team will receive a cold welcome when they travel to Dragao Stadium on October 5, 2025 to face Porto in the league.

A group of FC supporters Porto insulted Mourinho when their team won 3-0 at Rio Ave on Saturday, September 20, 2025 WIB, just days after the former Fenerbahce coach received a lively applause while attending Porto's 1-0 (14 September 2025) victory against Nacional.

"Of course, I don't expect to get a loud applause at Dragao in two weeks. I played at Dragao while coaching Chelsea."

"I didn't get any applause at all, let alone came to Dragao as coach of Benfica, but it was part of life."

"FC Porto is a very important part of my history. I am a very important part of the history of FC Porto."

"FC Porto wants to win, we want to win, there is no more history," said the Portuguese manager.

Mourinho won two Premier League titles, TaANGKAa de Portugal, Europa League, and Champions League for two seasons coaching Porto.