The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager did not hold back when addressing those who had questioned his leadership, especially amid Benfica’s domestic struggles this season.

Speaking after the match, Mourinho said, “The only thing I want it to do is bring a little respect. I hope they are not committing suicide or jumping off the balconies. Calm down.

“Benfica will lose, and they’ll have another chance to beat us. The only thing I need is a little respect. The team is the same.”

The match in Lisbon delivered high drama from start to finish. Real Madrid took the lead in the 30th minute through Kylian Mbappe, but Benfica responded in style as Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis struck to put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Mbappe then pulled another goal back to make it 3-2, keeping Madrid in contention as they chased a result that could have strengthened their hopes of finishing in the top eight.

As the tension mounted late on, Madrid were reduced to nine men after Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were both sent off.

Benfica, meanwhile, were desperate for one more goal after realising other results meant they needed to boost their goal difference to secure progress.

In an unforgettable finale, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin left his post to join the attack in stoppage time.

In the 98th minute, he rose to meet a free kick and headed the ball into the net, sealing a historic fourth goal and sparking wild celebrations at the Estadio da Luz.

Benfica currently sit 10 points behind Primeira Liga leaders Porto, and Mourinho has faced mounting pressure domestically.

However, he used the emphatic European win to underline his belief in the squad and silence some of the criticism.

Reflecting on the match, Mourinho admitted he had to take bold decisions to secure the victory.

“Winning or losing games in the final moment, with the final play, has happened various times, but to win you need to take risks,” he told UEFA.

“You think it arrives but then it doesn’t, so then you have to change a few things.

“In the end one ball [for them] could make it 3-3. And with that we would still be out.

“To win against Real Madrid carries importance and is significant. In that moment we had to give it everything.”

On Trubin’s dramatic goal, Mourinho revealed it was not entirely unexpected.

“We knew he could do it,” he said.

“In the game at the Dragao [two weeks ago], Trubin was also there in the final action and headed it but a Porto player blocked it.

“You have to put the ball in there. It was a spectacular goal that independent of our future in the competition, puts us into the next round, and was a moment of history against Real Madrid.

“It is important for a few reasons, economically important for Benfica, and even more so from a prestige point of view.”