Jose Mourinho saw red as Benfica drew with his former side Portoplaceholder image
Jose Mourinho saw red as Benfica drew with his former side Porto | AFP via Getty Images
The former Man Utd head coach was sent off as emotions boiled over at the weekend.
Jose Mourinho claimed he was called a 'traitor' 50 times after the Benfica head coach was sent off in the final stages of their fierce 2-2 draw with Porto at the weekend.
Benfica came back from two goals down to snatch a draw, as substitute Leandro Barreiro netted a dramatic equaliser in the 88th minute. The goal sparked bedlam on the touchline, with former Porto manager Mourinho shown a red card after he appeared to clash with members of the opposition coaching staff.
Mourinho rose to prominence when his Porto side won the Champions League back in 2004, a run that included a famous touchline celebration at Old Trafford after they knocked out Manchester United. The 63-year-old won six trophies during his spell at Porto but made the controversial decision to join fierce rivals Benfica last September after he had been sacked by Fenerbahce.
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Jose Mourinho sent off after clash
Jose Mourinho was given his marching orders alongside Porto assistant Lucho Gonzalez following a confrontation after the late Benfica equaliser.
Speaking after the match, the former Manchester United manager was asked why he had been sent off: "The referee said he sent me off because I kicked a ball towards the Porto bench, which is completely false. Many times, after goals, I have kicked the ball into the stands to give it to a lucky fan and celebrate. I know I'm not very good technically, but it was meant for the stands."
When pushed on the confrontation with Gonzalez, he added: "He called me a traitor 50 times in the tunnel. I'd like him to explain to me, a traitor to what? I went to Porto, I gave my soul to Porto, I went to Chelsea, I went to Inter, to Real Madrid, I travelled around the world and gave 24 hours of my life every day, gave my life, my soul. That's what professionalism is about.
"Insults from the fans are one thing. But a fellow professional calling me a traitor, why? A traitor to what? Giving everything to Benfica? A traitor to what? I didn't like it."
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