Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has hailed Anthony Gordon as the best player on the pitch following Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

Gordon opened the scoring for Newcastle in the first half, setting the tone for an impressive display at St. James’ Park. Substitute Harvey Barnes then came off the bench to score a brace, sealing back-to-back Champions League victories for Eddie Howe’s men. Mourinho admitted that his Benfica side struggled to contain Newcastle’s intensity and pace throughout the encounter.

“We conceded three goals from transitions,” Mourinho said after the match. “The first, I wouldn’t even call it a transition — it was a quick attack where Dedic lost to the best player on the pitch, Anthony Gordon, who had a tremendous game. The second and third goals also came from transitions, and we couldn’t cope with their speed and rhythm.”

The Portuguese tactician praised Newcastle’s energy and organization, admitting that Benfica were outplayed by the Premier League side’s pressing and physicality. “They killed us in transition — their intensity, power, and quality were difficult to handle. Once you go two goals down against a team like that, the danger they pose becomes even greater,” he added.

Despite the defeat, Mourinho said he considered the 3-0 scoreline fair, acknowledging Newcastle’s superior performance. The win puts Newcastle in a strong position in their Champions League group, while Benfica will need to regroup ahead of their next fixture.