Mourinho's Tactical Confusion Precedes Trubin's Dramatic Champions League Winner
In a stunning turn of events at Estádio da Luz, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho confessed to tactical confusion moments before goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Real Madrid. The 4-2 victory secured Benfica's progression to the Champions League playoff round in one of the tournament's most memorable finishes.
Mourinho's Accidental Tactical Shift
Mourinho revealed he was completely unaware that Benfica needed a fourth goal to advance when he made defensive substitutions late in the match. "When I substituted António Silva and Ivanovic, I had no idea if 3-2 was enough. I just wanted to close the door," the Portuguese manager admitted after the Tuesday night clash.
The Benfica boss expressed frustration when he finally learned the qualification requirements, stating: "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?'"
Trubin's Heroic Intervention
Realizing the situation with Madrid reduced to nine men after late red cards to Raul Asensio and Rodrygo, Mourinho made a desperate tactical adjustment. He pushed center-back Nicolas Otamendi forward before sending goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin into the attacking area for a stoppage-time free kick.
The gamble paid off spectacularly when Trubin headed home what became his first career goal, completing the 4-2 victory and sparking wild celebrations among Benfica players and supporters. The Ukrainian goalkeeper's unexpected contribution secured Benfica's Champions League survival in dramatic fashion.
Guardiola's Unexpected Praise
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, whose team's automatic qualification could have been threatened by a Madrid comeback, acknowledged his rival's successful gamble. "We didn't know Benfica needed a goal to qualify," Guardiola said Wednesday. "When we saw the goalkeeper coming up we asked, 'Why are you coming up?' But it was a good strategy from José, wasn't it?"
Match Context and Implications
The thrilling encounter saw Kylian Mbappé twice give Real Madrid the lead before Andreas Schjelderup's brace and Vangelis Pavlidis' penalty put Benfica ahead 3-2. Despite Mourinho's initial confusion, he defended his approach post-match, emphasizing the team's competitive spirit.
"That was the pride behind the attitude," Mourinho explained. "I would be happy the same, winning the way we did against Real Madrid and being out." Both clubs now advance to the playoff round after missing automatic qualification for the round of 16, setting up intriguing possibilities for the next phase of Europe's premier club competition.
