Benfica president Rui Costa has played down speculation Jose Mourinho’s position was under threat and said the two parties are “in tune”.
Mourinho cast doubt on his future over the weekend following the 1-1 draw with Casa Pia that left the Lisbon giants in third in the Primeira Liga table, two points behind Sporting CP and seven adrift of FC Porto.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss has not made the impact the club hoped for when he succeeded Bruno Lage in September, and has a clause that allows him to leave this summer, leading to suggestions they would part ways.
But Costa told A Bola that the club stance was that the 63-year-old would, at the least, see out his contract at the Estadio da Luz.
“Jose Mourinho has a contract for another year, it’s not an issue right now,” said the former Portugal midfielder. “We are in tune.”
Casa Pia draw a major blow for Benfica
With only a handful of matches remaining, Mourinho acknowledged the result against Casa Pia has likely ended their title challenge, despite the fact that they have still not lost a league game this term.
“You say we’ve dropped two points; I’d say we’ve lost our last chance to fight for the title,” he said.
“We’re no longer in control of our own destiny when it comes to finishing second. Even if we won every game – which would be extremely difficult, but possible, Sporting would also have to drop two points. But the aim is to fight for this.
“If we didn’t win this game, the title race would be over.”
Costa said today the weekend setback needs rectifying.
He added: “It was a more than unexpected draw, which could not have happened, should not have happened… And that leaves us in an even more complicated situation than the one we were in.
“It is our obligation to fight until the end, it is our obligation to erase the image of what we did with Casa Pia.”