Newcastle United must rebound against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica after falling to defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Magpies hadn’t even conceded a goal away from home in the Premier League before taking on Brighton.
Danny Welbeck ruined that record, though, scoring either side of a sumptuous Nick Woltemade goal to seal a 2-1 Seagulls win.
Newcastle at least have a chance to hit back quickly, as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica visit St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
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Jose Mourinho on facing Newcastle United
Newcastle beat Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 last time out in the Champions League and will now welcome Mourinho to Tyneside.
Benfica hired Mourinho as their new boss in September, and ‘The Special One’ has won three of his first six games.
Benfica lost 1-0 at Chelsea in their last Champions League game, though, and Mourinho turned his attention to Newcastle after beating Chaves 2-0 on Friday night.
Speaking to O Jogo, Mourinho branded Newcastle a ‘tough team’ – and believes Eddie Howe’s side have physicality and intensity that Benfica cannot match.
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Mourinho also highlighted Newcastle’s height as a potential threat from set pieces, and praised Magpies fans for the atmosphere at St James’ Park.
“Tough. They’re a tough team, very physical, with great intensity in midfield, and we’re not,” said Mourinho.
“They have a very strong team, giants who are very strong at set pieces. At St James’ Park, the fans play,” he added.
Jose Mourinho once rejected Newcastle United role
Mourinho has a strong connection to a Newcastle United favourite in Sir Bobby Robson.
During spells with Sporting, Porto and Barcelona in the 1990s, Mourinho served as Robson’s assistant.
Robson became Newcastle boss in 1999, and he wanted Mourinho to join him.
As quoted by BBC Sport in 2004, Mourinho claimed that Robson proposed an interesting idea at Newcastle.
Robson wanted Mourinho to come in as his assistant and then become Newcastle boss, with Robson moving upstairs.
Mourinho simply could not accept the offer as he looked to become a star manager in his own right.
Mourinho’s belief in himself paid off, and he will now look to take Newcastle down on Tuesday evening.