José Mourinho reaffirms: Benfica is the strongest

“Benfica is our strongest opponnent in the Champions League group stage”, declared this Tuesday the Manchester United's coach , José Mourinho, reinforcing what he had told when he found out the draw result.

In Setubal, land where he was born 54 years ago and where since this Tuesday there is an avenue with his name next to the riverside area, José Mourinho spoke about the upcoming two games against  Benfica - the first on October 18^th, at Luz, and the second on October 31^st, at Old Trafford -, devaluating Benfica’s results against the other teams of the group in the Champions League.

"If I saw Benfica in Basel? No ... I saw the game against Maritimo. And I saw a game with difficulties - those of the big teams winning against the not so big teams - that are welcome in Portuguese football. I saw a competitive match. The 5-0 at Basel do not make me change the opinion that Benfica are our strongest opponents in the group stage, "said the coach.

"Benfica is better than CSKA an than Basel", said Mourinho.

"We now have two games against Benfica and they are the toughest of the group stage. We made six points in the first two rounds, but we still have four or five left, "recalled the Portuguese.

Text: João Sanches