Khaberni - A virus hit the Benfica club, including coach José Mourinho, infecting several team stars and their coach with illness before facing his previous team, Porto.
The British newspaper "Daily Mail", quoting the Portuguese "A Bola", reported that Mourinho and several Benfica players and staff suffer from symptoms such as headaches and body pains, threatening their participation in the Portuguese league summit against Porto on Sunday.
Mourinho had complained of a fever before the UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea last Tuesday, but he appeared on the sideline during the match, which Benfica lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge due to an own goal by Richard Rios.
Sunday's match marks Mourinho’s return to the stadium of his former club Porto, where he made his name more than 20 years ago when he led the team to win the UEFA Champions League.
Porto currently leads the Portuguese league with 21 points, while Benfica is in third place with 17 points after a troubled local start, with Sporting Lisbon in second place with 18 points.
Mourinho took over the coaching of Benfica in late September, after being dismissed from Fenerbahçe last month, and suffered his first loss against his former team, Chelsea.
Mourinho received the support of the fans at Stamford Bridge, where the fans sang for him throughout the match in recognition of what he had provided to the club, having previously led the team to three English Premier League titles, as well as the FA Cup and the League Cup.
In statements after the match, Mourinho said: I do not live on memories, but on results. But I thank them. I was focused, but you hear something from the cheering. When I am in London, I meet them every day on the street.
