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Richard Rios’ 18th minute own-goal proved to be the telling touch as the Enzo Maresca’s men registered a 1-0 triumph over the Portuguese unit.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez jumps for the ball with Benfica’s Nicolas Otamendi, right, during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Chelsea and SL Benfica at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Premier League outfit Chelea edged out Portuguese side Benfica in the UEFA Champions League ncounter betwenn the sides on Wednesday at the Stamford Bridge.
Richard Rios’ 18th minute own-goal proved to be the telling touch as the Enzo Maresca’s men registered a 1-0 triumph over the Portuguese unit.
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The man once nicknamed the “Special One” was the center of attention on his return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. However, he didn’t leave with a win. Mourinho blew a kiss to Chelsea fans chanting his name. He asked Benfica supporters to stop throwing objects at a player and even jogged onto the field to remove a stray ball.
In his first Champions League game in five years, Mourinho saw his Benfica team put up a good fight but ultimately lost 1-0 to Chelsea, the English club where he had two spells — from 2004-07 and 2013-15 — and established himself as one of the coaching greats of his generation.
Although Mourinho’s status may be diminished nowadays, he is still highly regarded in this part of southwest London. Chelsea fans gave him a warm welcome as he emerged from the tunnel just before kickoff, having exchanged pleasantries with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.
Wearing a white shirt under a dark coat, Mourinho responded to Chelsea fans’ chants of “Jose Mourinho, Jose Mourinho” by waving and blowing a kiss.
“When I am in London, I meet them every day on the street. I know that is going to be a relationship forever. Hopefully I come back here in 20 years with my grandkids. They belong to my history and I belong to their history,” he said reflecting on the bond he sharess with the London side.
When the final whistle blew, Mourinho hugged Maresca and disappeared quickly down the tunnel, clearly disappointed to have lost and choosing not to engage further with the Chelsea supporters.
“My career took me to a position where everybody thinks I have magic to make things happen,” Mourinho said.
“With me, it’s never enough. If I am in the job, it’s because I like to put myself on the line every day. I am desperate to win the next match, that’s my nature,” the Portuguese boss added.
Toward the end of the first half, Mourinho left his technical area, walked down the touchline, and gestured to the traveling Benfica fans to stop throwing items at Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as the Argentina midfielder took a corner. Fernandez had transferred from Benfica to Chelsea in February 2023 for a then-British-record fee of 106.7 million pounds ($131.4 million).
Near the end, as Benfica pushed for an equalizer, a stray ball got onto the pitch from the sideline and Mourinho chose to run onto the playing surface and take it away. That got some applause from the home fans, too.
“Of course I was focused on the game, but you always have a little bit of the sound of the crowd, and of course I thanked them,” Mourinho said.
Speaking Monday upon his return to Stamford Bridge, he said he would “always be a Blue.”
Mourinho recently took charge of Benfica after leaving Fenerbahce in Turkey. This return means he is back in the Champions League, a competition he won with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
United Kingdom (UK)
October 01, 2025, 08:01 is
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