Benfica Undefeated Season: Trubin Insists Not Losing Is Not Enough After An Unbeaten Campaign

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin says an unbeaten league record means little after finishing third in the Primeira Liga. Benfica completed the 2025-26 domestic season without a loss, yet still trailed champions Porto and runners-up Sporting CP, and also missed direct qualification for the Champions League group stage.

Trubin stressed that the squad cannot treat the campaign as a success while falling short in key targets. Benfica ended the league eight points behind Porto and two behind Sporting CP, despite not losing any of their 34 fixtures, and the goalkeeper believes that gap shows the level still required.

Jose Mourinho’s team recorded 23 wins and 11 draws in the Primeira Liga, giving Benfica an unbeaten domestic run for the first time since the 1977-78 season. On that earlier occasion, Benfica also failed to secure the title and finished behind Porto, underlining how draws can still prove costly.

The club’s league performance and final standings can be summarised as follows:

Reflecting on that outcome, Trubin pointed out that an unbeaten run does not match the expectations inside the club or among supporters. "Not losing and winning are two different things, Trubin told Sky Sports. Not losing is not enough for a huge club like Benfica. Our fans do not accept any other result than winning and being in first place. We need to be much better."

Mourinho returned to Benfica in September, 25 years after the first spell at the Lisbon club. During the 2025-26 league campaign, Mourinho oversaw 30 Primeira Liga matches, winning 20 and drawing 10. Benfica also reached the Champions League play-off round, where Real Madrid ended their hopes of reaching the main competition.

The Portuguese coach is reported to be close to another move to Real Madrid in the upcoming summer. Even with that uncertainty, Trubin highlighted the impact Mourinho made on daily work at Benfica and on personal development, both in match preparation and in how players communicate during games.

Benfica Primeira Liga challenge and Trubin’s development under Mourinho

Discussing the relationship with Mourinho, Trubin praised the coach’s approach to messaging. "I am very lucky to have had the chance to work with one of the best coaches in history, added Trubin. I really like that he does not talk too much but knows exactly what he needs to say to every player at every moment. Just a few sentences, right to the point. That I need to communicate more, demand more from the team. He told me that I see a lot, but I am the kind of person who keeps things inside. He wants me to organise the defence better. And I agree with him. It is not just about my skills on the pitch."

Benfica’s third-place finish means a route to the Champions League now depends on future qualifying rounds, making the next season important for both the club and Trubin. The goalkeeper’s comments show a focus on higher standards, both collectively and individually, as Benfica aim to convert unbeaten domestic runs into league titles again.