Mourinho also discussed the midfield performance, highlighting the importance of the players' positioning. He noted that when Napoli's players, Buongiorno and Beukema, tried to get to the middle, they left space for Benfica's players, Ivanovic, Sudakov, and Barreiro, to create opportunities. This allowed the team to catch their breath and create counter-attacks.

The coach also spoke about the debuts of Tiago Freitas and José Neto, who were brought in to replace injured players. Mourinho trusted both players and felt they were a good fit for the team. He noted that they were physically similar to the players they replaced and were well-suited for the back five formation. The coach was pleased with their performance and considered it a great experience for them to make their debut for Benfica in the Champions League.