After leading the Lisbon club to consecutive European Cups, Guttmann requested a pay rise. The club refused his request and he allegedly placed a curse on the Portuguese team. Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion,  he said.

With two consecutive European Cup titles, a Portuguese feat, Benfica are the second most decorated Portuguese team in overall UEFA competitions and hold the Portuguese record for most appearances in finals of UEFA competitions, with ten appearances.