Jose Mourinho returned once again to England as his Benfica visited Newcastle United on Tuesday and a comprehensive 3-0 defeat has sparked backlash from local media
Jose Mourinho pictured frustrated at St James' Park
Jose Mourinho's side were defeated at St James' Park(Image: Getty)
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Jose Mourinho's Benfica were no match for Eddie Howe's Newcastle United in the Champions League. The Portuguese side fell 3-0 and their head coach produced a gesture on the night that was missed by cameras.
The Magpies made light work of their opponents at St James' Park with Anthony Gordon opening the scoring on 32 minutes. Harvey Barnes then added a second-half double to secure all three points. Former Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho had visited another of his former clubs, Chelsea, in Europe last month and tasted defeat there too, by a 1-0 scoreline.
Gordon, in particular, ravaged the Benfica backline, but it was head coach Mourinho who was first to congratulate him at full-time. The 62-year-old went straight up to Gordon after the whistle sounded in a gesture overlooked by broadcasters TNT Sports as he embraced the UEFA Player of the Match.
Nevertheless, the media back in Portugal have not been so complimentary of the way the manager, who was only hired in September, set up his side. ChronicleLive takes a look at some of the telling press reactions to Benfica's lacklustre performance, including Mourinho's tactics being slammed and a further dose of praise for a certain Newcastle winger.
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'Could have been even worse'
Portuguese outlet A Bola were not exactly thrilled with how Mourinho's men performed, and the headline to their report on the fixture read: "Predator saw signs of weakness and went for the jugular."
Jose Mourinho the head coach of Benfica reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Newcastle United and Benfica
The manager's team selections evidently did not work
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Specifically, though, it was the head coach's team selection that drew some criticism. Mourinho opted to use Tomas Araujo at left-back. Araujo is typically utilised as a centre-half or on rare occasions at right-back.
They wrote: "Mourinho adapted the team to Newcastle, not only by introducing Tomas Araujo to the left and Fredrik Aursnes ahead of him. But they often found themselves outnumbered on the flanks, a situation that persisted throughout the match.
"Respectively, Benfica couldn't get a grip on the game, struggling to survive, looking like vulnerable prey, devoured by the predator. It was 3-0. It could have been even worse."
'Even more of a surprise'
Maisfutebol were also critical of this tactical decision from Mourinho, which was of course meant to shore things up at the back but did not have the desired effect.
They penned: "Mourinho brought Richard Rios back into midfield and, even more surprisingly, moved Tomas Araujo to the left side of the defense. The idea was to close down the flank when Newcastle attacked and pull the center-back into the middle when Benfica won back possession.
Harvey Barnes scores his side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Newcastle United and Benfica
Araujo was exposed at left-back
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"On paper, the plan sounded appealing, but the English didn't hold back from putting it to the test persistently. It was primarily through this attack that they pressed forward, with Jacob Murphy and Kieran Trippier leaving Araujo and Aursnes constantly uncomfortable.
"In this intricate game of balance, it was Benfica's left side of the defense that ultimately gave way. Mourinho's return tour to England yielded no points for Benfica, who remain on zero in the Champions League standings."
'Mourinho's wall broken down'
TSF also took aim at the manager's setup and their headline read: "Mourinho's wall broken down by the English: Benfica loses to Newcastle."
It was Benfica's players that they were also very critical of, as they wrote: "Benfica returned from the break still shaking, falling asleep on the pitch."
Murphy fires wide for Newcastle United against Benfica
Mourinho's defensive efforts were destroyed
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'Insufficient when the bar is set higher'
While some have placed blame on Mourinho, O Jogo writes as though it is the team he has been given and not the manager who is at fault for this loss and previous poor results.
They claimed: "This Benfica wasn't built by Jose Mourinho, and it won't be possible to clean up the mess as quickly as Benfica fans would have hoped, at least until the squad can be reshuffled in the January transfer window.
"It's most likely that the pragmatic, minimum-services version that has been available for domestic consumption will continue to emerge on the pitch, but it is clearly insufficient when the bar is set higher."
'Omnipresent in attack'
Maisfutebol were very quick to praise one Newcastle star in particular; Gordon. The winger bagged a goal and caused Benfica's defence a multitude of problems on the night, with the outlet very complimentary of his outing.
They wrote of the England star, mirroring Mourinho's gesture: "He had the always interesting bonus of scoring a goal, but the England international's performance went far beyond that.
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Benfica
Gordon impressed and also bagged the opening goal
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"Omnipresent in Newcastle's attack, he punished Tomas Araujo's adaptation to the left, but also provided crucial support in the central zone. Near the end, he provided the assist for Barnes's 3-0. A brutal match, complete with a goal to the applause of the fans."