Jose Mourinho wants to stay at Benfica next season, having conceded that the Primeira Liga is out of their reach this term.

Benfica drew 1-1 with Casa Pia in the league on Monday, with Rafael Brito cancelling out Richard Rios' opener.

It is a result that leaves third-place Benfica seven points behind leaders Porto with six games left to play, while Sporting CP are two points ahead of them with a game in hand.

Mourinho returned to Portugal in September, having spent 21 years coaching abroad, and his current contract is set to expire in June 2027, but it reportedly contains a clause that would allow him to leave after this season.

Despite that, the 63-year-old refuted rumours that he planned on leaving Benfica after the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

"Jorge Mendes is my agent, but I am in charge of my own decision," he said when asked about the rumours.

"My decision is that I would like to continue at Benfica."

Benfica remain the only team in the Primeira Liga that are unbeaten this season, though their nine draws (W19) have caused them to slip further behind the top two.

"You say we've dropped two points; I'd say we've lost our last chance to fight for the title," Mourinho said.

"We're no longer in control of our own destiny when it comes to finishing second. Even if we won every game – which would be extremely difficult, but possible – Sporting would also have to drop two points.

"But the aim is to fight for this."