In comments to Portuguese television channel CMTV, Mourinho – who was recently dismissed from his post at Manchester United – said that he does not like to talk when he is out of work but that, out of respect for Benfica, he wanted to make clear that he is not interested in working for the Lisbon club.

On his future, Mourinho said that his "motivations are as [high as] ever" and that he is in "high" spirits, but that he now has the right to wait for a new project.