When it comes to Jose Mourinho's comments about Vinicius Junior alleging he was racially abused by a Benfica player, it is difficult to know where to start. But the line about Benfica legend Eusebio is as good a place as any. The idea that because the greatest player in the club’s history is Black, therefore nobody connected with them could possibly be racist, is at best surreal and absurd, at worst vicious gaslighting. Mourinho was, in effect, telling Vinicius that he didn’t hear what he says he heard — because there’s a statue of a black footballer outside Estadio da Luz. Then there’s the criticism of Vinicius for celebrating in what Mourinho deems to be an inappropriate manner. And then the killer, the repeated slur that is often aimed towards Vinicius. The implication that this is all his fault. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens. Always.” This was a night that Jose Mourinho sunk to a new low, writes @NickMiller79. nytimes.com/athletic/7053817…