José Mourinho faced a double blow on Wednesday night as his Benfica side slumped to a 2-0 Champions League defeat against Juventus. Beyond the poor result on the pitch, the veteran Portuguese manager was the target of relentless taunts from the Bianconeri faithful, who haven’t forgotten his legendary rivalry with the club during his Inter Milan days.
“Jump With Us”: Juve Fans Taunt Their Old Rival
As the final whistle blew at the Allianz Stadium, a section of the Juventus supporters erupted into ironic chants directed at Mourinho. Shouts of “José Mourinho, jump with us” echoed through the stands, mocking the manager after his side was outclassed by the Italians.
The friction stems from Mourinho’s historic tenure at Inter Milan, where he famously provoked Juventus fans during several Derby d’Italia clashes. This time, however, it was the Turin crowd who had the last laugh, celebrating a victory that cements their place in the knockout stage conversation.
Salta con noi JOSE MOURINHO #Juventus #Mourinho #JuventusBenfica pic.twitter.com/xlPFOgINOG
— Gabriele (@Gabriele40004) January 21, 2026
Benfica Crisis: Fans Call for Mourinho’s Retirement
While the Italians mocked him, the atmosphere back in Lisbon has turned toxic. Benfica fans are increasingly losing patience with the team’s form under Mourinho. After a grueling qualifying round against Fenerbahçe, the Eagles have struggled to find consistency in the league phase.
Social media was flooded with criticism following the match. One disgruntled fan noted: “The gamble on Mourinho represents the biggest mistake this board has made.” Another supporter went even further, suggesting the game has passed him by: “Mourinho needs to retire. The game is moving forward, and he’s still stuck in the past.”
Champions League Standings & Final Round Deciders
The 2-0 result leaves the two clubs in vastly different positions:
- Juventus: Sit 15th with 12 points, well-positioned for the playoff round.
- Benfica: Remain on 6 points, facing a “do or die” final match against Real Madrid to avoid total elimination.
The final round of the league phase takes place next Wednesday (Jan 28). Juventus travel to face Monaco, while Mourinho’s Benfica must pull off a miracle at home against the defending champions.
Wilson Gaspar is a football analyst covering the UEFA Champions League, focusing on match previews, tactical reviews, and the performance of Europe’s top clubs throughout the competition.
