The Portuguese liga giant let go of a two goals before losing 3-2 in his first game in the Champions League at home on Tuesday. Lage was immediately relieved after the match.
Mourinho close to joining Benfica
According to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho is open to a contract with Benfica, because he plans to return to the club after his recent departure from Fenerbahçe. The Portuguese club has already contacted the former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach and is currently in advanced negotiations to appoint it new main coach.
Lage was immediately dismissed after seeing his Benfica team become the first club to lose against an Azerbaijanic team in the Champions League. The Qarabag found itself led by two goals in 20 minutes, but achieved a spectacular rise. It all started with the goal of Leandro Andrade in the 30th minute, which allowed visitors to return to the match. Camilo Duran then equalized shortly after the start of the match in the second period, before Oleksiy Kashchuk entered the goal of victory. Benfica quickly announced the departure of Lage after the defeat, the coach's second term to the club having lasted just over a year.
Benfica wants a “winning coach”
Benfica president Rui Costa announced the departure of Lage at a press conference, where he was directly asked if the club was recruiting Mourinho. Although Costa did not give a direct response, he said: “The profile of the next coach should be that of a” winning coach “.”
The former Manchester United coach should officially join the club in the coming days, because Benfica ideally wants his new coach to be on the bench for the next championship match against the AVS. Mourinho started his career as a head coach in Benfica in 2000, but only supervised 11 games before resigning to join Uniao de Leiria.
