José Mourinho has spoken out on the incident between Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League match. The Benfica coach emphasized principles while stressing the presumption of innocence. He also touched on related issues including a jersey swap dispute and rumors about his future.
José Mourinho broke his silence ahead of Benfica's latest Portuguese league match, addressing the controversy from the Champions League clash at Estádio da Luz between his team and Real Madrid. The incident involved Benfica's young Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior, which has dominated headlines.
Mourinho issued a stern warning, stating, “If my player Prestianni did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s, his career with a coach named Mourinho and at a club like Benfica comes to an end.” He later clarified his position, underscoring the importance of presumption of innocence: “The presumption of innocence is a right, but I have to put many ‘ifs’ in front of it. If the player is really guilty, I will never look at him the same way, and that’s final for me, but I have to include the ‘ifs’ first.” Mourinho criticized UEFA's decision to remove the player from the match under article 4206328, noting it lacked the conditional language he deemed necessary.
Responding to comments from Álvaro Arbeloa, Mourinho said, “I love Álvaro, and I will continue to, but I believe I was the one who made the right decision, not him.” He reiterated his commitment to impartiality, avoiding favoritism toward either Benfica or Real Madrid.
Mourinho also reflected on his suspension that kept him from the bench at Santiago Bernabéu, describing it as saddening but manageable with monitors on the bus. Regarding a jersey swap dispute involving Benfica's Sidny Lopes Cabral and Vinícius, he noted, “The shirt issue could have been avoided,” given the week's events.
On speculation about returning to Real Madrid, Mourinho affirmed his desire to stay at Benfica: “I want to stay and respect my contract with Benfica. If they want to renew it, I will do so without dispute.”
