Mourinho's Bernabéu return ruined as red card rules him out of Madrid clash
The Special One's dramatic touchline dismissal means he'll miss the Champions League return leg at his former stomping ground after losing his cool against Real Madrid.
José Mourinho’s highly anticipated return to the Bernabéu dugout has gone up in smoke after the Portuguese manager was sent off during the closing stages of Benfica’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Red mist descends
The Special One saw red in what felt like the blink of an eye from French referee Letexier. The flashpoint came after a Vinícius Júnior foul on the edge of the area, with Mourinho leaping from his technical area demanding a second yellow for the Brazilian winger, who’d already been booked for his goal celebration.
Mourinho’s animated protests caught the referee’s attention, who initially approached to show him a yellow card. Rather than cooling his jets, the Portuguese gaffer doubled down on his complaints, leaving the official no choice but to flash a second yellow followed by the dreaded red.
A bizarre turn of events
What makes the dismissal particularly odd was how it contrasted with Mourinho’s demeanor throughout the rest of the match. He’d been the picture of calm up until that point:
- No previous confrontations with officials or opposing staff
- Actually helped defuse tensions during a racism protocol incident involving Vinícius and Prestianni
- Was seen speaking amicably with several Madrid players, including Vinícius
Homecoming cancelled
The sending off means Mourinho will be watching from the stands when Benfica travel to the Spanish capital for the return leg. It’s a proper shame for the neutral, as his return to the Bernabéu had been circled as one of the most intriguing subplots of the tie.
For a manager whose history with Real Madrid runs deep, having led Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013, this red card has put the mockers on what would have been a box office reunion with the club where he won La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España.
One moment of madness has cost him his place on the touchline for what would have been an emotional return to his old manor. Football’s a funny old game, innit?