Mourinho: Both Benfica and Leverkusen are in urgent need of points, and tomorrow’s game is crucial for us
Note: In the first three rounds of the Champions League this season, Benfica lost all three games, while Leverkusen's record was 2 draws and 1 loss.
Is Leverkusen today similar to the team you played against two years ago?
From a tactical point of view, they are similar. Leverkusen's current formation is very close to that of that time, although some of their players have changed. Leverkusen uses a 5-man defensive system on the defensive end, and on the offensive end, they will build an offensive framework with a 3-man or 4-man system. They have a core forward in their team who is good at connecting attacks quickly in the penalty area. Leverkusen is a strong team. They were in trouble at the beginning of this season, so they changed their head coaches. It often takes a while for new coaches to find the style of play that best suits the team. Now they have obviously adjusted in place.
Both Benfica and Leverkusen are in urgent need of points now. I hope our home fans can put enough pressure on each other. I think Benfica can win this game.
About Benfica's recent three-game winning streak
Benfica has a winning culture. I cannot say whether it is more difficult to work in an atmosphere of victory or in a situation of defeat. Sometimes, moments of victory can cause people to let down their guard; other times, a bad period can create a desire to win again and change the status quo. We've been through the trough of losing at Newcastle before and the team's response has been brilliant - we've won three games in a row and dominated the last few games. The level of competition is different now, but I hope the team can maintain confidence and build a stronger resonance with the home fans.
Did this game give you sleepless nights?
I only had insomnia last night because the children were too noisy. It was already past 11 o'clock in the evening and they were still listening to music. They were the only ones that made me insomnia. My work has been very intensive recently. I have to do a lot of analysis on our opponents, and I am also trying to sort out Benfica's problems and find solutions.
Is this game between Benfica and Leverkusen a "all-or-nothing" battle of life and death?
After the game ends tomorrow, there will be 12 points up for grabs. Even if we don't get points tomorrow, we can still qualify by relying on the subsequent 12-point battle. But it would be too optimistic to say, 'I scored 0 points in the first four games, but I have to score 12 points in the next four games to advance.' Obviously, this game is crucial. If we win tomorrow, we will be in the competition and become one of the teams vying for qualification; if we don't win, the situation will become more difficult. This game must be played with an attitude of "extremely eager to win" and cannot be afraid of this responsibility.
In previous League Cup games, the home fans have been fighting side by side with us - I know some people don't attach much importance to the League Cup, but the fans have always supported us - I believe they will come to the scene tomorrow and will also cheer for us. The players have a very high fighting spirit for tomorrow's game and I believe everything will go well.
Mini-game recommendations:Farmer Challenge Party
