BENFICA ULTRAS stormed their club’s training centre in Seixal on Saturday morning, demanding to speak with key club officials after poor results.
The 200-odd fans successfully confronted manager Jose Mourinho, technical director Simao Sabrosa and World Cup-winning captain Nicolas Otamendi.
Four members of the Benfica ultras were initially allowed to enter, before they demanded the rest join them, said Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha.
Police officers were sent to the scene to maintain order, but allowed the ultras in after they promised to protest peacefully without causing damage to facilities.
After meeting with Mourinho, Simao and Otamendi on one of their training pitches in Seixal, the 200 ultras left Benfica’s premises an hour after entering.
The details of their communication are unclear.
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Mourinho joined Benfica last September on a deal until the summer of 2027, replacing Bruno Lage, who was sacked after a humiliating Champions League defeat to Qarabag.
Meanwhile, club captain Otamendi, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, has played for Benfica since 2020 and racked up more than 150 appearances across all competitions.
Benfiquistas are protesting a poor run of form which sees their club languishing 10 points behind Portuguese league leaders Porto after 18 matches.
Recent defeats in the Taca de Portugal quarter-final to Porto and Juventus in the Champions League have also left fans disgruntled.
Benfica are still unbeaten in the Primeira Liga but have dropped valuable points with three home draws against bottom-half teams Santa Clara, Rio Ave and Casa Pia.
Despite rising tensions, players still stopped their cars after the training session to give autographs and take photographs with their fans.
Young defender Sidny Lopes Cabral, 23, was the first player to oblige to selfie requests.
Shortly after, Ukrainian midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov was spotted signing autographs when the crowd had subsided.
Mourinho began his managerial career with Benfica in 2000 but took charge of only 10 games and left following a dispute with the club president.
After joining the club, he said: “The promise is very clear – I will live for Benfica, for my mission.
“I’m not the important thing – Benfica is important.”
Benfica host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night, in a must-win game to keep their fading chances of qualifying for the knockout phase play-offs alive.
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