After being named Portuguese football’s President of the Year, Sporting’s Frederico Varandas made a small tribute to Jose Mourinho.
Varandas achieved the honour at the Stromp Awards for guiding the Lisbon side through the post-Ruben Amorim era and to another Primeira Liga title after 19 years without one.
Like his opposites at Porto and Benfica, Varandas has continually found himself in drama over refereeing, and now he has the charismatic Mourinho to deal with.
Benfica appeared to miss out on a clear penalty during a 4-0 win over Moreirense, and later said: “There are others who cry, shout and put pressure on referees.”
Appearing to respond during his awards speech, Varandas said: “This award is the result of the people I have by my side. They are the reason I am here.
“Finally, and most importantly, because I come from a place where hierarchy is very important, I wanted to thank people I don’t know, but who have given so much, our collaborators; from whom we demand so much and who are making Sporting experience one of the best periods in its history.
“They don’t appear in the spotlight, but they are involved in the transformation of our club. Of a place where there are no tears, no lamenting, where we strive to be better every day.”
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