JOSE MOURINHO praises his Benfica team after their 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League. Here are his comments following the match in the sixth round of the competition. Match analysis: "We started very strong, everything we planned went exactly as we wanted.
I believe the players fully understood the game and executed it well. They showed great spirit, teamwork, and intelligence. They also displayed class and confidence, making the most of the spaces we created. Ivanovic caused a lot of trouble by getting into behind the Napoli defense. It's a fantastic win that keeps us in the competition. The next two matches against Juventus and Real Madrid will be very challenging, but we're still in the hunt."
Game strategy: "Our strategy worked well.
I think most of the time, coaches make the right decisions, but it's the players on the field who decide whether those decisions look good or not. I knew Antonio Conte and my players well. We prepared for this in training, and everything went smoothly. Ivanovic did an outstanding job. The players were smart. All the credit goes to the team."
Midfield: "The problem was Buongiorno and Beukema reaching the positions where Sudakov, Barreiro, and Aursnes were.
When they tried to get there and left space, Ivanovic tried to get into behind. If the ball went through, we could create chances, but we could also take a breather. Things went well. The players did an exceptional job. The team was very strong."
Debuts for Tiago Freitas and José Neto: "These debuts weren't in my original plan, but I trust them.
If there was an issue with Dahl, José Neto would come in. If it was Rios, then Freitas. Physically, they're similar players. Then, when we switched to a back five, Aursnes and Barreiro were already tired and we needed fresh legs to disrupt the rhythm. Players who are strong in the air. It's perfect for them. Making their debut for Benfica is a great achievement. Doing it at Luz, in the Champions League... and winning makes it even better."