Mourinho reflects on 'extremely demanding' Real Madrid clash ahead of Benfica's next match

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/benfica-zBkyuyRI/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=WxePtoiU"]On the loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League[/a], which was marred by an alleged racist attack on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prestianni-gianluca/C2bbqoRj/"]Gianluca Prestianni[/a], Mourinho said: [b]"That game was extremely demanding in every aspect. [/b][/p][p][b]"Up to the 50th minute, it required maximum physical effort and concentration, but I also have to admit that from then until now - and it’s not over yet - it hasn’t been easy to handle everything emotionally, all that happened and keeps happening. [/b][/p][p]"But we have a game tomorrow, crucial for our ambitions, where winning is essential. We need to stay focused and play at our best."[/p][image alt="Benfica's upcoming matches" id="172f3120-1ae1-463f-a10c-304b7387857a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cfceb501-28b4-4b80-82b1-373611942aad" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Looking ahead to Benfica's next league match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/afs/IZPeUwtM/"]AFS[/a], he added: "We expect a team similar to the one that played against Estoril and fought for nearly 120 minutes to reach the Portuguese Cup semi-finals.[/p][p]"I believe Joao Henriques has improved the team; they’re defensively organised and have always had dangerous players on the break. Like everyone else, they’ll come to Estadio da Luz to defend a lot and try their luck on counter-attacks.[/p][p]"[b]If we want to keep looking up at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sporting-cp/tljXuHBC/"]Sporting[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-porto/S2NmScGp/"]FC Porto[/a], and not down at Gil Vicente and SC Braga, we have to win this match."[/b][/p][embed guid="a43bcde2-14ae-4051-97d2-d4acc8e95302" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSyyIVjzqM" social-type="youtube" /][p]On Prestianni, who is suspended for the AFS game, and his squad options, Mourinho added: "We’ll make some adjustments.[/p][p]"[b]I can say without hesitation that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aursnes-fredrik/j1vdxcqN/"]Fredrik Aursnes[/a] will have to sit out so he can have a chance [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/benfica-zBkyuyRI/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=M1zZ0lxn"]to play in Madrid[/a]; he’s not in any condition to play right now. We’ll make changes, but always with the awareness that it’s a tough game and we need to win it."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/afs-IZPeUwtM/benfica-zBkyuyRI/?mid=8pMUaPYg"]Follow Benfica's next match live here.[/a][/b][/p]