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José Mourinho analyzed Benfica’s victory over Naples. Técnico answered Bola na Rede’s question at a press conference.
José Mourinho responded to Bola na Rede, after Benfica’s victory against Naples, in the sixth round of the Champions League. The Portuguese coach analyzed the importance of Enzo Barrenechea in the red team and some tactical specifics of the match.
Ball in the Net: Here you highlighted how Benfica managed to attract pressure from Napoli to explore spaces up front. In the construction of the incarnated game, what is the individual and collective importance, on the one hand of Barrenechea lateraling to the left and seeing the game head on, alone, and in a second moment of movements across the entire width of Aursnes. How important are the two players in building the ball?
Jose Mourinho: You understand the thing. Congratulations, you understand the thing. Maybe they’ll take you to replace one of the know-it-alls who doesn’t know anything. It’s a great question. Barrenechea’s positioning created a problem for them because they only have two midfielders, Elmas and McTominay. When Enzo opens in that position, either they don’t press and he manages to receive the ball alone, or he skips a midfielder and opens up more spaces inside, or he has to skip a player like Neres, who is effectively not a boy whose strongest qualities are occupying defensive spaces. Enzo’s movement in that position is key in our play with the ball in this game.
See Bola na Rede’s question for José Mourinho below:
