“There is no Ríos, there is another. And one who plays as well as Ríos has been playing.”

Benfica coach José Mourinho did not hold his usual pre-match press conference ahead of the team’s next game, making only a few statements to BTV before the visit to Nacional da Madeira. Mourinho congratulated the Under-17 national team and addressed the absence of the suspended Ríos, dismissing any drama.

Under-17 World Championship

“Many people deserve congratulations. Obviously, Benfica and its youth academy deserve congratulations. A very special hug to all the kids. To Bino [Maçães] and the entire federation structure, not forgetting the clubs that train and work with these kids… many people deserve congratulations, including the kids’ families. The Portuguese people are happy and proud. Being world champions, even at under-17 level, is a source of great pride for everyone.”

You can’t count on Richard Ríos in Madeira.

“He’s always been a starter, but even when Lukebakio got injured, which was a bit of a dramatic moment, I said that if he didn’t play, someone else would. It’s a good way to deal with all setbacks, whether due to injury or suspensions. There’s no such thing as Ríos, there’s always someone else. That’s the right philosophy: not to cry over negative things and to look at things optimistically. May whoever doesn’t play, play as well as Ríos has been playing.”