A furious Jose Mourinho has ordered his Benfica squad to have a 'sleepless night' at the club's training complex following a damaging cup defeat that has intensified speculation over his future.
Braga defeat sparks Mourinho meltdown
The legendary Portuguese manager saw his side's domestic unbeaten run shattered on Wednesday night, as Benfica lost 3-1 at home to Braga in the Portuguese League Cup semi-final. The loss was a significant upset, given Braga trail Benfica by a considerable 12 points in the Primeira Liga table.
The defeat comes amid growing reports that Benfica's hierarchy are considering a move for Ruben Amorim, the recently sacked Manchester United manager, as a potential replacement for Mourinho.
'I hope they don't sleep at all'
In a blistering post-match press conference, Mourinho revealed his immediate plans for the chastened squad. He confirmed the players would not be returning home but would instead remain at the club's Seixal training base, a plan originally made in anticipation of a cup final this Saturday.
"Thinking we'd be playing the final, we're not going home, we're going to Seixal," Mourinho fumed. "The players will sleep in Seixal... I hope the players sleep as well as I do, which is to say, that they don't sleep at all. That's what I wish for them."
The 62-year-old, who only took the Benfica job in September after his dismissal by Fenerbahce, stated that the immediate aftermath in the dressing room was a "monologue" from him, but promised dialogue with his players in the coming days to analyse the performance.
Pressure mounts ahead of Porto showdown
The fallout from this loss casts a long shadow over Benfica's next crucial fixture: a Taca de Portugal quarter-final away to arch-rivals FC Porto next Wednesday. Porto currently lead the Portuguese top flight, five points clear at the summit, while Benfica sit third.
Mourinho's challenges are mounting on multiple fronts. In addition to the cup exit and league deficit, Benfica face a daunting task to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. They must navigate their final two group games, away to Juventus and at home to Real Madrid, sitting just outside the play-off places.
The combination of this high-profile defeat and the persistent links to Ruben Amorim places Mourinho under severe scrutiny as he prepares his team for a season-defining clash against his former club.
