José Mourinho expressed profound empathy for young full-back Samuel Dahl, whose crucial error led to Benfica’s defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in a recent Champions League clash.
Mourinho stated his “heart ached” for Dahl. The full-back’s poor clearance directly resulted in Bayer Leverkusen’s winning goal, scored by Patrick Schick. Dahl was substituted just four minutes after the goal.
Despite the mistake, Mourinho lauded Dahl’s “excellent” overall performance. He emphasized the young player’s quality during the match.
The Benfica coach attributed the loss primarily to the team’s inability to convert chances. He cited 21 shots on goal, including “four or five great opportunities” that went unconverted.
Mourinho praised his team’s overall display. He noted their quality “with and without the ball” throughout the game.
He explained that after scoring, Bayer Leverkusen adopted a more defensive posture. This tactic made it challenging for Benfica to find space and create further opportunities.
Mourinho conveyed frustration with the match’s outcome. However, he expressed satisfaction with the “team’s evolution and the quality of the game.”
These comments were made during a post-match interview with Portuguese sports broadcaster Sport TV.