Benfica manager, Jose Mourinho, has bemoaned a lack of time on the training pitch with his new players.
Mourinho was speaking to the media, after they lost 1-0 at Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Richard Rios’ own goal in the first half proved to decisive.
Mourinho said: “We played four matches with two days in between. I never trained, I just recovered in between and one of my strengths is on the pitch, training. You don’t have time for that.
“When a team changes coach mid-season it’s because things are not good.
“So we’ve had some difficulties and also a period of big pressure for the players with the election period at the club – it’s almost a political campaign and the players can’t escape that.
“Coming to the match today, a defeat is always a defeat but there are defeats and defeats.
“This one is one that can be a start for them, it was a stable performance. We could’ve come away from here with a draw and it would’ve been positive.”