By Boluwatife Kehinde
Jose Mourinho recently reflected on his enduring relationship with Chelsea, reminiscing about cherished memories while expressing disappointment over Benfica’s 1-0 defeat during his return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.
Despite receiving a warm and enthusiastic welcome from Chelsea supporters throughout the UEFA Champions League match, Mourinho’s disappointment was evident after his team was unable to capitalize on a commendable performance.
The only goal of the match resulted from an unfortunate own goal by Richard Rios in the 18th minute, marking Mourinho’s first loss in four matches since assuming leadership at Benfica.
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This match held particular significance for the esteemed manager, who remains Chelsea’s most successful coach, having secured seven major trophies—including three Premier League titles—across two distinguished periods with the club.
Although Mourinho experienced considerable challenges during his time with Chelsea, including two dismissals by the former owner Roman Abramovich and subsequent tenures with rival clubs Tottenham and Manchester United, the passage of time appears to have eased those tensions.
His recent return to Stamford Bridge was met with celebration, as the stadium echoed with chants of his name, reflecting the ongoing affection many fans have for him.
Staying true to his character, Mourinho remarked that nostalgia alone cannot mitigate the impact of defeat. “I don’t feed myself with these memories,” he stated.
“I feed myself with victories. Of course, I cherish the memories, but during the game, my focus was solely on the match.”
He expressed gratitude for the support of the fans, whom he frequently encounters in his daily life in London. “I know that it’s going to be a relationship forever,” he added, looking toward a future where he hopes to return to Stamford Bridge with his grandchildren.
On the Chelsea side, the match concluded with added disciplinary challenges for manager Enzo Maresca, as substitute Joao Pedro received a red card in the closing moments for a high challenge, bringing the team’s total to three red cards in just four matches this season.
Reflecting on this situation, Maresca noted, “At least we learned how to win with a red card,” acknowledging a silver lining in the midst of the challenges faced.
Chelsea’s performance against Benfica demonstrated a significant improvement compared to their previous lackluster display against Brighton, where they faltered following Trevoh Chalobah’s second-half sending off.
This match also showcased progress when compared to recent defeats against Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Recognising the pressures stemming from Chelsea’s challenging start to the season, Maresca underscored the importance of this victory, stating, “We needed the win.
In the first half, we controlled the game, scored, and created more chances.”
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He noted that several players were not at full fitness, having to play due to the absence of seven or eight injured teammates.
“Sometimes you need to learn to win in an ugly way,” he concluded, acknowledging the importance of resilience as Chelsea strives to stabilize their season moving forward.
