Benfica coach José Mourinho appeared in a press statement following the 1-0 loss to Benfica in the first leg of the playoff qualifying for the Champions League round of 16, at the "Da Luz" stadium.

The coach said: "How is Bristiani? Does he feel regret? Regret for what? I spoke with both of them, Vinicius says one thing and Bristiani says another. I don't want to be biased towards the red... and I don't want to say that I believe Bristiani 100% either; but I also can't be on the white side and say that what Vinicius told me is the absolute truth. I can't, I don't know."

The coach added in his speech: "All I know is that the match was intense until the goal. Benfica entered the game very well, and Real Madrid was extremely strong, then they changed the course of the match starting from the 30th to 35th minute."

He added: "Vinicius scored a goal that only he or Mbappe could score. After that, he should be carried on the shoulders of his teammates and not get into a conflict with 60,000 people in this stadium. That's the only thing I have to say."

He continued: "Do you think Vinicius provoked the fans? This happens... In how many countries has this happened? In how many stadiums? In how many stadiums? He is a player from another world, I like him a lot. But when you score a goal like that... celebrate with your teammates on their shoulders. The match is over, that's where the match ended."

He continued: "Were you sent off because you protested against not giving Vinicius a second yellow card? No... no... I was sent off because I said something very clear: the referee had a note that said Tchouameni, Carreras, and Haussen could not receive a yellow card... and he didn't want to caution Carreras or Tchouameni... I told the referee that. I have been on the bench for 1,400 matches, and he knows well who he can caution and who he cannot. We know how things work. Real Madrid deserved to win, they were stronger..."

He concluded: "In the return match, I will not be able to be on the bench, go to the locker room, or communicate with the team, and it will be difficult for me, but I have my colleagues and assistants, and they will do their job."