The power in that curse still operating? Or still hard luck or coincidence still running in Benfica? Another Europa League final, yet no triumph.

It begins with the highly successful Benfica team of the early 60s. Managed by a man called Bela Guttman, The Eagles had incredible success winning
two league titles and back-to-back European cups with a side that included one of the greatest footballers of all time, Eusebio pictured above.

After the 1962 final, where Benfica had come from 2-0 and 3-2 down to beat Real Madrid 5-3, Guttman asked
the Benfica board for a cheeky little pay rise.
Despite Guttman’s success in building one of European football’s strongest powers, his request was turned
down in a move that has haunted the club ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Guttman got the hump and promptly left.
Rather than taking a crap on his bosses desk or sending a few offensive emails before he left, Guttman took a mature approach to being shafted by his employers.
On leaving Benfica he left a curse on
the club, declaring, ‘Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion’.

And since then Benfica has played in eight Europa League finals winning non of it, been beaten by AC Milan 2-1(1963), Inter Milan 1-0(1965), Man United 4-1{AET}(1968), Anderlecht 2-1 (1983) PSV Eindhoven 6-5{PEN} (1988) Inter Milan 1-0 (1990), Chelsea 1-0 (2013) and 2014 Benfica 4-2 on penalties.

Is it going to continue till Guttman’s speculated hundred years?

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