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Mourinho Orders Benfica To Stay at Training Base After 3-1 Braga Cup Exit

The coach imposed an overnight stay at Seixal to force reflection ahead of next week’s Portuguese Cup quarter-final at Porto.

Overview

  • Braga beat Benfica 3-1 in the Allianz Cup semifinal in Leiria after leading 2-0 at halftime.
  • Mourinho told players to sleep at the Seixal training ground and said he hopes they "don't sleep" as they think about the loss.
  • He criticized a lack of locker-room dialogue, calling the post-match scene a monologue, and plans to review the contrasting halves with the squad.
  • Benfica finished with 10 men after captain Nicolas Otamendi was sent off.
  • The defeat ended a reported 11-game unbeaten run; Benfica sit third in the league, 10 points off the leaders, and visit FC Porto in the cup quarter-final next Wednesday.