Mansion Sports – Jose Mourinho described Antonio Conte’s reaction to Napoli’s defeat against Benfica as “nothing more than an excuse” and explained how his tactical surprise influenced the flow of the Champions League match.

The Special One delivered a surprise at the Estadio da Luz by placing central striker Vangelis Pavlidis on the bench and starting Franjo Ivanovic in his place.

This decision proved effective, as Richard Rios scored with a near-post touch, followed by Leandro Barreiro securing a 2-0 victory shortly after the second half began.

“This team has performed well over the last three to four weeks. I saw a good performance against Sporting, so I expected a strong display here as well,” Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia.

“I also knew we were facing a fantastic Napoli side with a top coach who uses a three-man defensive system that causes problems for opponents, but we played very well and deserved the victory.”

Conte dedicated much of his post-match comments to explaining that Napoli had run out of energy due to an injury crisis and a loss of sharpness.

Mourinho Sees Conte’s Reaction as Nothing More Than an “Excuse”

When this point was brought to Mourinho, he was not impressed. “Saying Benfica were physically fresher sounds like an excuse,” Mourinho responded.

“We read the game well, and I decided to start Ivanovic instead of Pavlidis up front, and that changed the way we attacked. Pavlidis makes certain movements with the midfielders that make it easier for a team like Napoli to press him. Ivanovic created more instability against a team defending with three players.

“The players showed character and intelligence, the Benfica mentality, which means that when faced with the biggest challenges, they perform even better. We knew that without a win here we would be eliminated, but now with six points, we still have a chance.”

Benfica had lost their first four Champions League matches this season, but they have now secured two consecutive victories after beating Ajax 2-0 away from home and winning 2-0 at home against Napoli.

Mourinho Responds to Comparisons Between Serie A’s Tempo and Other European Leagues

Another topic raised was the claim that Serie A is played at a slower tempo compared to many other European leagues, leading to difficulties for Italian teams in the Champions League. Did Mourinho agree?

“It is difficult for me to judge. In Portugal, we have a similar problem. The last time a Portuguese team won the Champions League was more than 20 years ago, and the last time an Italian team won it was 15 years ago, so there is some truth to it.

“The teams that win the Champions League tend to be the ones that invest the most, although there are also teams that invest heavily but still do not win. Inter reached the Champions League final twice in the last three years, so on the other hand, Italian teams cannot be considered too poor.”

Of course, the last time a Portuguese or Italian team won the Champions League, both had Mourinho on the touchline.