Olaleye Idowu
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has bemoaned a lack of time on the training pitch with his new players.
Mourinho was speaking to the media after they lost 1-0 at Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Richard Rios’ own goal in the first half proved to be decisive.
Mourinho said, “We played four matches with two days in between. I never trained, I just recovered in between, and one of my strengths is on the pitch, training. You don’t have time for that.
“When a team changes coach mid-season it’s because things are not good.
“So we’ve had some difficulties and also a period of big pressure for the players with the election period at the club – it’s almost a political campaign and the players can’t escape that.
“Coming to the match today, a defeat is always a defeat but there are defeats and defeats.
“This one is one that can be a start for them, it was a stable performance. We could’ve come away from here with a draw and it would’ve been positive.”