Mourinho on Former Benfica Coach Lage: "I Understand How He Feels—He’s an Excellent Manager"

Upon arriving in Lisbon, José Mourinho spoke to local reporters.

On Bruno Lage’s Departure as Benfica Coach

Mourinho said: “I understand that feeling. I know what he’s going through right now—he needs time to process all this. No coach is happy when they leave; you always think you could have done more. I have nothing but respect for him, especially since I went through the same thing not too long ago.

What I said a month ago, I’ll repeat now: He’s a very good manager. He led an important team, and I even congratulated them [on their achievements]. And I’m not exactly a paragon of fair play, so it wasn’t easy for me to say they deserved to win.

Did Lage’s comments refer to me as the almost-certain choice [for Benfica’s new coach]? You know more than I do.

As for Lage, I have nothing but respect for him, and I wish him all the best in his career. He knows that returning to Portugal wasn’t part of my plan, but in my mind, a natural end to my career would be to one day coach the Portuguese national team.

If that eventually happens through Benfica… What coach would say no to Benfica? I wouldn’t.”

Mourinho himself was previously sacked due to Benfica: He was dismissed by Fenerbahçe after the club lost to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase.