Benfica’s Jose Mourinho loves to dig-out referees, but on this occasion even he had to admit he was wrong.
Speaking after a 2-1 Primeira Liga win over Gil Vicente, Mourinho felt hard done by that the Eagles didn’t go ahead earlier through a penalty.
Andreas Schjelderup saw a header blocked in the six-yard box by what looked like Zé Carlos Gonçalves’ hand at first viewing.
Speaking post-match, Mourinho said: “That the referee didn’t see it, I accept, because the game is played at 200 miles an hour and referees sometimes can’t see, but the VAR must have been having a coffee at that moment, because he didn’t see a clear penalty.
“I have a clear feeling, seeing it quickly, that the situation preceding the corner that led to our goal seemed to me a very clear penalty.
“It was much clearer than the one that was given to António Silva in the game against Casa Pia, for example. But that’s a matter for VAR, not for the referee.”
However, just minutes later, Mourinho appeared in another interview having seen another angle which cleared Gonçalves of any wrongdoing.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see another angle of the play that seemed to me to be a penalty, and it’s not,” he said.
“I apologise for my comment at the end of the game.”
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