LISBON: Portuguese club Benfica are set to name Jose Mourinho as their manager following the sacking of Bruno Lage in the aftermath of their 3-2 Champions League defeat by Qarabag, Portuguese TV station RTP reported on Wednesday.
Benfica said in a statement on Wednesday they had reached an agreement to part ways with Lage following their shock loss to the Azerbaijani side.
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager Mourinho left Turkish club Fenerbahce in August, two days after his side crashed out of the Champions League playoffs to Benfica.
Benfica did not immediately respond to an emailed request seeking confirmation of Mourinho’s appointment.
A move to Benfica would bring Mourinho’s remarkable career full circle, with the 62-year-old having begun his managerial career at the club before moving to rivals FC Porto and guiding them to Champions League glory in 2004.
From Porto he moved to Chelsea, famously describing himself as “the Special One” in a press conference to announce his arrival in the Premier League.
He won the Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 in his first spell with Chelsea, before adding a third crown in the 2014-15 season during his second stint at the club.
He joined Inter in 2008 and won the Champions League in 2010 to complete an unprecedented treble with the Serie A side.
The Portuguese coach, who also won trophies at Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester United, will be tasked with returning Benfica to the summit of Portuguese football.
The Lisbon-based club have finished second in the last two seasons of the Primeira Liga behind city rivals Sporting CP.
They are sixth with 10 points from four matches and next travel to face AVS Futebol SAD in the league on Saturday.
If appointed, Mourinho would cross paths with two of his former clubs in the Champions League group stage, with Benfica set to face Chelsea on September 30 and Real Madrid in January.
Benfica to hire Mourinho as new manager, Portuguese TV station RTP reports
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Benfica to hire Mourinho as new manager, Portuguese TV station RTP reports
- A move to Portuguese club Benfica would bring Jose Mourinho’s remarkable career full circle
- He began his managerial career at the club before moving to FC Porto and guiding them to Champions League glory in 2004
Salah sets up goal on return to Liverpool action
- Salah came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute
- Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.
The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.
The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored again with half an hour to go to give Liverpool breathing space.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds — the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.
He also said that he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Salah was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in the gym.
Slot said at Friday’s pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding: “I have no reasons (in) not wanting him to stay.”
There was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s match about what role Salah would play, with the winger named on the bench.
Liverpool, who had won just two of 10 Premier League matches before the Brighton game, made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Salah entered the fray about 20 minutes before half-time when Gomez was withdrawn.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez squandered a good chance to level early in the second half, striking the ball against the outside of a post, and Brajan Gruda also went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike scored his second, nodding home Salah’s corner.
Salah himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.
The win lifts Slot’s men to sixth in the table ahead of the later kick-offs on Saturday, easing the pressure on the beleaguered manager.
- Salah departure -
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is about to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.
“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup,” he told reporters last week. “I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.
