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Mourinho Sets Pre‑Match Tone for BenficaNapoli, Dismissing Injury Alibis

He highlights Napoli’s tactical growth under Antonio Conte, maintaining belief that Benfica can still qualify.

Overview

  • At his pre‑match press conference, Mourinho rejected talk of Napoli’s absences as decisive, arguing their bench quality makes the difference negligible.
  • He cited alternatives such as Rasmus Højlund, Lorenzo Lucca and Scott McTominay when asked about missing stars like Romelu Lukaku or Kevin De Bruyne.
  • Mourinho praised Napoli’s recent system change and noted the club’s strength after two scudetti, adding that Conte’s teams are tactically rigorous and never weak.
  • He declined to reveal his lineup and said the transfer market is not in his thoughts, emphasizing a focus on extracting the maximum from available players and on the result.
  • Confirming a youth push, he said José Neto is in the squad and stressed giving youngsters chances without extra pressure, while insisting qualification remains mathematically possible in this sixth Champions League matchday.