LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Jose Mourinho claimed he was called a traitor “50 times” by a rival manager after he was sent off in the final minute of Sunday’s frenetic O Clasico between bitter rivals Benfica and Porto.
Mourinho, the 63-year-old manager, magnet of controversy In soccer, he was shown a red card in the 90th minute of a 2-2 draw in the Portuguese league, and Benfica’s manager said after the match that he had been sanctioned for kicking the ball toward Porto’s substitute bench.
In a quote published in Portuguese daily A Bora, Mourinho said that was not his intention.
“I keep kicking the ball into the stands to give the lucky fans a chance,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference.
“I know I’m not that great technically, but that was for the stands.”
Mourinho, who led Porto to the Champions League title in 2004 in the final season of his two-and-a-half year spell at the club, added that being accused of being a traitor during a confrontation with Porto assistant coach Lucho Gonzalez after the match was “an attack on my professionalism”.
“He called me a traitor 50 times. I want you to explain to me (to whom) I am a traitor?” Mourinho posed. “I went to Porto. I gave my soul to Porto. I went to Chelsea, I went to Inter[Milan]I went to Real Madrid. I traveled all over the world and gave 24 hours of my life every day. That’s what you call professionalism.”
Last month, Mourinho attacked the character of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani accused of racial insults During a Champions League match.
Mourinho suggested that Vinicius had egged on Benfica’s players with his congratulations after scoring the only goal of the match. playoff game between teams.
These comments were widely criticized, including by Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.
As a result of Sunday’s draw, Porto are now top of the Portuguese league, four points behind Sporting Lisbon and seven points behind third-placed Benfica.
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