Jose Mourinho hoped that his critics were not ‘jumping off balconies’ after Benfica stunned Real Madrid 4-2 to reach the Champions League knockout play-offs.
It was a crazy game in Lisbon, which Real Madrid had led through Kylian Mbappe scoring in the 30th minute.
Andreas Schjelderup (2) and Vangelis Pavlidis scored to put the home side 3-1 ahead before Mbappe put Real back within one.
The Spaniards needed to equalise to have a chance of reaching the top eight of the Champions League, while Benfica thought they were in the top 24 to reach the play-offs, but as results changed elsewhere, needed another goal to edge in on goal difference.
Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off late for Real Madrid as they lost their discipline, then Benfica had a free-kick deep into injury time, which goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin came forward for and headed home to score a crucial 98th minute fourth.
Benfica are 10 points adrift of Primeira Liga leaders Porto and Mourinho has felt the heat, but has taken the opportunity to fire back at his critics after the unforgettable victory.
‘The only thing I’d like it to bring is a little bit of respect,’ he said. ‘I hope they’re not committing suicide or jumping off balconies. Calm down, Benfica will lose and they’ll be able to kill us again. The only thing I’d like is a little bit of respect.’
Get your football fix
Don’t want to miss the week’s biggest football stories? Metro’s exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.
Sign up here, it’s an open goal.
He added: ‘The team is the same. Since I started working with them, the team has been the same, united, people who want to work, who suffer with negative results, who don’t give up, people who go all the way.
‘I remember that on the fifth matchday we had 0 points and we still had to play against Napoli, Real Madrid and Juventus, and they went all the way.
‘They did what I asked: kill or be killed. If I had lost today, I would have died standing. We gained the possibility of another important night at the Luz Stadium, against a European giant.
‘Economically it has no impact, but prestige it does. I wish the players had gained a little bit of respect, just a little bit.’
On the stunning, vital fourth goal from Trubin, Mourinho told TNT Sports: ‘We knew that he could do it. We were losing in Portugal a couple of weeks ago and in the last minute he went there and almost scored, so we know that the big guy is capable of this.
‘The quality of the service is the most important thing, you have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy.’
He added: ‘When I substituted António Silva and Ivanovic, I had no idea if 3-2 was enough. When they came on to hold on… but when we realised it wasn’t enough and they were down to ten men, I sent Nico [Otamendi] to play up front.
‘When the foul came, I sent Trubin forward and [Samuel] Dahl to stay in midfield. The little guy stayed back here. A historic night at the Luz.’
Now both Benfica and Real Madrid head into the play-offs and could resume hostilities as they could be drawn to face each other in Friday’s draw.
It will be Benfica or Bodo/Glimt facing Inter Milan or Real Madrid in the play-offs. Manchester City and Sporting will face the two teams that come through those ties in the last 16.
