Further complicating their future relationship are Mourinho’s specific comments regarding the atmosphere at Benfica. He suggested that Vinicius had incited the crowd, saying: “Yes. I believe so. It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately (he was) not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”
Mourinho also invoked the legacy of Eusebio to defend his former club against claims of a toxic environment. “When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club (Eusebio) was black,” Mourinho added. “This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. They (Vinicius and Prestianni) told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”
