Jose Mourinho has admitted that "killer" Newcastle were too strong for Benfica, who could not "compete with their horsepower" during their Champions League mauling on Tuesday evening at St. James' Park. The ‘Special One’ believes Eddie Howe’s men belong to a different league after a 3-0 defeat that left the visitors reeling and without a single point after three matches in Europe.
Gordon, Barnes, and Murphy led the charge
Benfica showed flashes of promise in the first half, notably when winger Dodi Lukebakio struck the post, but Mourinho conceded that Newcastle’s pace and physicality simply outgunned his team. The Magpies’ front line was ferocious. Anthony Gordon grabbed the opener, Harvey Barnes came off the bench to score twice, and Jacob Murphy ran riot down the flank, setting up Gordon’s first-half strike with a teasing delivery that split open Benfica’s defence. It was a showcase of pressing, power, and precision.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMourinho lauds Newcastle's wingers
In his post-match debrief, Mourinho was composed yet candid. He praised his players’ first-half effort but lamented their loss of structure after conceding.
"This tells me about the level of Newcastle," Mourinho began. "While the score was open, and I think it was even unfairly open, because in the first half the team played well on the pitch, the players felt comfortable in a stadium with a palpable atmosphere.
"The danger they posed for us was obviously from set pieces and everything indirect in the box, because it's difficult to compete with a team with this physicality, but we had great chances to score, three or four. Before they scored, we had a beautiful shot from Lukebakio that hit the post, so I reiterate that the first-half result doesn't reflect the game at all."
The 62-year-old drew attention to the physical contrast between the teams and added: "In the second half, we conceded a goal we couldn't afford, a set piece in our favour, where our initial positioning for the transition was correct, but then we made mistakes in our defensive movement. And when we concede that goal, the differences in characteristics between the teams come to the fore.
"There's a team with a higher horsepower engine than the other, a team with much more intensity, a team with much more speed. As I said yesterday [the day before yesterday], I think in the press conference—if not in the press conference, it was on TV—they have four lightning-fast wingers. They don't have one or two, they have four. And when you change two who come on in the 50th or 60th minute, when you change one and then later change another, we, losing the compact play we had in the first half, were exposed."
However, Mourinho feels things could have panned out differently if they had taken the lead when Benfica were on top in the first half.
"We score a goal before them, we reach half-time leading, we reach half-time tied, we can continue with the same type of organisation," he said. "Then, the second goal, psychologically, kills us. The players felt the second goal deeply, and then the game took a different turn, which was tough for us."
Gordon’s record-breaking night
Gordon continues to grow into one of the Premier League’s most complete wingers. His goal against Benfica made him the first Newcastle player in history to score in three consecutive Champions League games.
"It means everything, but we need more, my ambition doesn't stop there," he said. "Because we had so many chances, we had to put one away to calm the nerves. I was glad to see it go in. Playing with [Jacob] Murphy, I knew he was going to play that ball every time. That goal is all about him. We all love [Nick] Pope. He is one of the most popular people in the dressing room he is a top guy and a top keeper. He has kept us in so many game already this season and some of the saves he made were incredible."
Eddie Howe, visibly delighted on the touchline, hailed the performance of his forwards, and especially Gordon's.
"Anthony [Gordon] was outstanding. He looked a real threat all game," the Newcastle boss said. "He was dynamic, aggressive and positive. Jacob [Murphy’s] always been an assist threat and he was absolutely that. Some of the deliveries he put in were very good. I’m pleased for Harvey[Barnes] to come on and get the two that he did on the right side which shows his versatility. It’ll do those three players a world of good."
Getty Images SportA tale of two tables: Champions League joy, domestic frustration
While Newcastle’s European adventure gathers pace, now seventh in the Champions League league phase, their Premier League campaign tells a more sobering story. The Magpies sit 14th domestically, the lowest position they’ve held under Howe after eight rounds of fixtures. Their next test comes at home against Fulham on Saturday, and Howe's troops will be desperate to get the three points. Meanwhile, Mourinho's Benfica will look to bounce back in a Liga Portugal clash with Arouca on the same day.