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The Benfica President has reacted after Jose Mourinho’s side were hammered 3-0 by Newcastle United in the Champions League.

This made it three Champions League defeats in a row and by far the heaviest so far, after single goal margins in defeat against Qarabag and Chelsea.

It is a sensitive time for Rui Costa, who is the current Benfica President.

Benfica are a fan-owned club and Costa is up for re-election this weekend, at a time when the club isn’t performing well, having already sacked their manager last month, when Jose Mourinho then came in.

Official Benfica media release – 22 October 2025:

On Wednesday, October 22, Rui Costa, President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, discussed the events of the match against Newcastle (3-0), referring to round 3 round of the Champions League, noting that “the team has what it takes to achieve its goals.”

The club’s leader, still on English soil, called for unity around the working group, recalling the constraints that are present this season due to the absence of preseason and vacations, with repercussions on physical breakdown at times of increased competitive acceleration.

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