2026-01-29 14:38:55

Jose Mourinho has praised Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s late goal as “amazing” after his side’s dramatic Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Benfica beat nine-man Madrid 4-2 on the final matchday of the league phase on Wednesday (28.01.26), with Trubin’s stoppage-time header sealing a place in the knockout play-offs after results elsewhere briefly threatened to eliminate the Portuguese side.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, manager Mourinho said: “I used to say, for me, everything is déjà vu, but this one is the first time.”

The Benfica head coach insisted the goal was not pure improvisation, pointing to Trubin’s aerial threat late in games.

He said: “We knew that he could do it, we knew that he could do it. We were losing in Porto a couple of weeks ago and in the last minute he went there and almost scored.

“So we know the big guy is capable of this.”

Mourinho stressed that the delivery was key, but reserved special praise for his goalkeeper’s execution.

He said: “The quality of the service is, of course, the most important thing, you have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy.”

The circumstances surrounding the winner added to the drama, as Benfica were leading 3-2 late on and appeared to be safely through due to other results – prompting Mourinho to shut the game down with defensive substitutions.

He explained: “When I made the changes, the last changes, I was told it’s enough, so let’s close the door.”

Moments later, that information changed.

Mourinho said: “A few seconds later, they tell me we need one more goal. But I cannot make more changes. So that was the lucky point, to get a free-kick to allow us to go there with the big guy.”

The coach admitted his frustration at the confusion on the touchline.

He said: “When I was told we needed one more goal, honestly I was upset. I was thinking, ‘Why was I not told a few seconds before?’”

Despite that, Mourinho said his team’s mentality never wavered.

He said: “That was my challenge to the players before the game: ‘If we don’t qualify, we have to win.’ I would be happy the same, winning the way we did against Real Madrid and being out.”

Trubin’s goal sent Benfica into the knockout play-offs by a single goal, knocking Marseille out of the top 24.

It also opened up the possibility of a tie against one of Mourinho’s former clubs, with Inter Milan or a rematch against Real Madrid both potential opponents.

For Madrid, the defeat leaves a difficult route ahead, with a possible clash against Bodo/Glimt or another high-profile meeting with Manchester City looming.

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