Benfica manager Jose Mourinho claimed that FC Porto assistant coach Luis ‘Lucho’ Gonzalez repeatedly labeled him a “traitor” during their 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Mourinho was dismissed in the 91st minute for allegedly kicking the ball towards the opposing bench, while Gonzalez received a red card shortly thereafter following a confrontation with Mourinho.
In his post-match comments, the 63-year-old Mourinho said of Gonzalez: “He called me a traitor 50 times. I would like him to clarify what I betrayed. I dedicated myself fully to FC Porto, then I went to Chelsea, to Inter, to Real Madrid, and traveled around the world, giving my all every single day. That’s professionalism.”
“When he moved to Marseille from FC Porto in 2009, did he not betray FC Porto? He could have chosen a different way to insult me, and it may have been more appropriate, but this feels like an attack on my professionalism.”
“Insults from fans are one thing; that’s part of football. Those fans once admired me as I walked through the city. But this is from someone who shares the same profession as me, who has represented multiple clubs throughout his career. I simply don’t understand.”
“Traitor for what reason? For committing myself fully to Benfica?”
Gonzalez, 45, has been with FC Porto since 2005, a year after Mourinho left for Chelsea, where he had led Porto to Champions League success.
Mourinho previously won two league titles and a UEFA Cup with Porto. A former Argentinian midfielder, Gonzalez had two spells at FC Porto and became the assistant to coach Francesco Farioli in July 2025. The draw left Benfica in third place in the Primeira Liga, seven points behind leaders FC Porto.
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“There are still 27 points to play for,” Mourinho remarked. “I see it as challenging to close a seven-point gap.
“I’ve said since the start of the season that while it’s easy to understand how FC Porto plays, it’s quite difficult to tackle them. I doubt it will be simple for FC Porto to drop more points. Nevertheless, as long as it’s just a matter of mathematics, anything is possible.”
Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000 and returned to the club in September after being dismissed by Fenerbahce.