Benni McCarthy recalls how then FC Porto manager Jose Mourinho slapped him during their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Manchester United.
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It was 20 years ago when McCarthy wreaked havoc on his current employers whilst on the books of FC Porto.
McCarthy would prove to be the difference between the two sides as he scored a brace in the first leg in a 2-1 win, while Costinha benefited from his freekick in the second leg which ended 1-1.
South Africa's all-time leading goal scorer recently detailed how the 'Special One' slapped him during a bizarre moment of celebration.
"I think not many teams play against United and play with their tails up to have the confidence to do what we did in Porto, but then we always knew coming to Old Trafford, they don't call it the Theatre of Dreams for nothing because most teams get shut down straight away," he told Man United TV.
"So yeah, we had a little bit of arrogance also that the manager carried over. He made us believe that there's nothing to be scared of, you know, but in the back of our heads we knew that Manchester United at Old Trafford, you always see what happened.
"We went into the game a bit more skeptical. They were mad and that's exactly what happened. The first five minutes I think the tie should have been over for us. You know just the way they took the game, they approached the game from the first minutes we were all 10 players just stuck in the low block like really just defending our goals. Because it was just a carnage. And then, when they scored as well, pretty early, and then we just kind of deflated, but the manager on the side...
"We just kept looking over and kind of said 'what we got to lose, you know, we've done it in Portugal, so we just started playing our game and then it becomes then that we are pushing them a little bit back, but they still came and we had a couple of free kicks prior to that moment and Deco is always on the free kick.
"So anything within five metres outside the box, Deco had the craft. And then if it's further out because I add a bit more power and accuracy and nine out of 10 times I would hit the target and I went for it and then I was told just to go for rebounds and stuff, but then I just heard George. Costa, the captain came running and it's just a set to Deco to f*@k off. So he took the ball from Deco and then gave it to me and then Deco just gave me one stare and then he kind of walked away.
"I tried to go to the top corner and just found the right place and balance. And Tim Howard at the end as he got it, he punched it back into playing in and Costinha was the first one to react and the goal went in, obviously like the celebrations were wild and we just saw like this big overweight coat running and people jumping like a massive pile and as I got off. I mean, I say, you'd take it, you'd take it, you understand and I was that you... but I didn't.
"He's slapped me in the face after the celebrations and everything and then he says 'now come on now'. We defend at one point and then the game got back and honestly like for about 30 seconds, while the game restarted, my cheek was on fire, like he smacked me that hard, like other, like, my whole face was tingling! It was worth it because once the final whistle went. Wow! I think we celebrated a little bit which the United players and staff didn't take too kindly to," he said.
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