Jorge Jesus, a football coach known for sharp tactics and strong personalities, recently shared reflections on his long career. He spoke about his time at Benfica and even offered praise for Cristiano Ronaldo. But one dark memory stood out, something that truly reshaped him. He talked about the terrifying attack on Sporting’s training ground when he was the coach. It was an event that still weighs heavily on him. In fact, he told the program ‘Primeira Pessoa’ on RTP that he has never been able to watch a Sporting game live since that day.
When the attack happened, Jesus said he didn’t feel afraid in the moment. He explained that he confronted the situation directly. He was there, and he walked right into the chaos. He faced aggression himself and tried to shield his players from harm. He certainly felt danger then. But the deep emotional scar, the one he carries today, wasn’t there at that instant. The incident changed him so much. He still cannot bring himself to watch Sporting play in person.
The players were deeply affected too. After the attack, they refused to train. Jesus would tell them, “We must train.” They would reply, “Mister, we can’t go inside Alcochete. Please don’t ask us to. We just can’t go back into Alcochete.” At the time, Jesus admits he didn’t fully grasp their pain. Now, looking back, he understands it completely.
This event, he said, was the toughest moment of his career. He has lost many important matches. He lost two Europa League finals with Benfica. Those games were even bigger than winning the Portuguese Cup. Yet, emotionally, those defeats did not mark him like the attack on the training ground. That traumatic experience, he explained, came from a context that changed him forever. It continues to influence him even today.
Jesus was asked if he has forgiven the people who carried out the attack. He said he has. He firmly believes that those who acted that day are not true Sporting fans. He added that a real fan, whether of Sporting or Benfica, would never do such things. He took the chance to send a message to all club fan groups. He urged them to forget about using violence or intimidation. He said that kind of pressure does not make players run harder or jump higher. Instead, it is positive support that truly motivates athletes. Fans can show their displeasure inside the stadium, but outside, he stressed, they must forget about such actions. He pleaded with them to get those ideas out of their minds.
