Benfica's players insisted that they should focus on the derby, not on this.
The manager gathered his squad to discuss things that had been said in the dressing room after the Portuguese Cup loss to Porto.
Jesus missed the game because of his suspension, but was told that one of the team's captains, Pizzi, had insulted him, so he was asked to repeat what he had said, word for word.
Pizzi denied that he had offended him. Jesus didn't think it was true and said the player would no longer be training with the first team.
The rest of the squad decided to not train if Pizzi was left out of the session.
There was no turning back.
Jesus left the Portuguese giants within 48 hours. It was not a turning point for them.
Back then, Benfica were only four points behind their northern rivals. They are 15 points off the top of the league and out of the title race as they prepare to host Liverpool on Tuesday.
It's no surprise that the season started with Luis Filipe Vieira being put under house arrest. His lawyers deny the allegations of tax fraud and money laundered, though he resigned for them.
The question being asked now is a different one, how on earth has a team that went through all this and couldn't even beat the likes of Gil Vicente come so far in the competition?
Over the past few months, leaked conversations revealing, for instance, that Jose Mourinho pushed for Benfica to appoint Laurent Blanc instead of Jesus as manager have made the headlines nearly every day in Portugal.
They are part of audio recordings made by public prosecutors while investigating Vieira and his closest partners.
It is hard to imagine a scenario where Benfica could have focused on football.
The players end up being affected by it as well, according to Rocha.
Many of the problems are not related to the game, but they make it more difficult for the team to achieve its goals. The team is expected to fight for every trophy. It is more difficult to do that when you have so much trouble with the club structure.
They have had presidential elections, a new president, and a new coach. The way the team has performed in the Portuguese league shows that they are not in the position they wanted.
Since Verissimo took over, he has been able to unite the players, and now is the time for them to play their football and get rid of any pressure.
The best moments of the season for Benfica have been in the play-offs, the group stage and the last 16 of the European Championship.
It is more than they could have hoped for, but they want to keep going.
Rocha and his team-mates caused a major upset when they knocked out of the last 16 of the European competition.
Rocha said that back then it was difficult to play against a side that was title holders. This is the mentality for games like these.
When they have had to take control of games, Benfica have looked more comfortable defending.
They are among Europe's eight best clubs, but couldn't impose themselves against Braga in the league on Friday, losing 3-2.
The top scorer in the league with 27 goals and three assists, and the defensive duo of Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi, will be crucial, Rocha said.
The whole team will have to be at their best if they want to keep dreaming.
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