José Mourinho reportedly expressed apologies to Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa for his wild celebrations during Benfica’s thrilling 4-2 Champions League victory on Wednesday.
Mourinho’s Benfica qualified for the elimination phase playoffs by a one-goal margin thanks to a header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in the 98th minute at the Estadio da Luz.
In front of his former player and friend Arbeloa, Mourinho punched the air and gestured at the crowd as his coaching staff and substitutes poured onto the field in response to the last-ditch goal, causing raucous in Lisbon.
“I apologise for how I celebrated,” Mourinho said in his post-match news conference as quoted by ESPN.
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“But Álvaro is a football man, and he understood perfectly that in that moment, you forget that it’s Real Madrid, and that’s Álvaro on the bench, and [Madrid delegate] Chendo and all your people, you forget everything. I’ve apologised.”
Arbeloa Previously Played Under Mourinho
Arbeloa became one of Mourinho’s main on-field lieutenants during his tenure as manager at the Bernabéu from 2010 to 2013.
“For me it was a privilege and honour to be coached by José Mourinho,” Arbeloa said when appointed as Madrid coach. “He influenced me a lot … If I try to be José Mourinho, I’ll fail spectacularly.”
This season, Benfica’s European campaign started with four straight losses, and Mourinho is under pressure as his team lag behind rivals Sporting and Porto in the Portuguese division.
“I’m in a phase where I think less about myself, and more about the players and the club,” Mourinho said on Wednesday.
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