Chaves coach Filipe Martins expressed immense pride and encouragement from legendary manager José Mourinho following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Benfica in the Portuguese Cup, despite the elimination. Martins hailed Mourinho as one of his “references” and “the best coach of all time.”
Mourinho’s validation made Martins “believe that I can reach a level… that I can be proud of.” This personal acknowledgment followed Chaves’ exit from the cup in the third round.
Martins described Mourinho as “humble” despite his “tough guy exterior.” He recalled a jersey gift from Mourinho in 2022 and a dedication penned after a match between Roma and Martins’ former club, Casa Pia.
The second-division coach voiced satisfaction with his team’s performance against top-tier Benfica. He noted they demonstrated their “evolution” and ability to “be competitive at other levels.”
Martins acknowledged that Benfica’s early goal disrupted Chaves’ strategy to unsettle their opponents. However, he praised his squad for adapting and creating chances, even striving for a “deserved” consolation goal.
He underlined the collective strength of his team, highlighting rotation for the cup game and the debut of youth academy player Gabi.
Martins quickly redirected focus to Chaves’ primary objective: promotion from the Portuguese second division. He characterized the Benfica match as a “trap,” urging his team to “turn off the immediacy button” and prepare for their league campaign.
The coach asserted that several second-division teams, including Chaves, possess the capability to compete in the top flight, believing the gap is “not very large.” He emphasized his commitment to the league, stating he would rather secure a win against a league rival like Académico Viseu than against Benfica.