Mourinho’s Homecoming Gambit: Victory, Memories, and a Night at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho’s Humble Acknowledgement After Benfica’s Loss

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho thanked Chelsea fans for the warm welcome on his return to Stamford Bridge, but he also admitted feeling frustrated after Benfica were defeated on Tuesday night in the Champions League group stage.

In postmatch remarks reported by ESPN, Mourinho framed his philosophy this way: he does not live on memories but on victories.

The 18th‑minute own goal by Ricard Reis handed Chelsea a 1‑0 win, a night when Blues supporters celebrated Mourinho’s history with eight titles, including three Premier League trophies across two spells at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho first celebrated success in West London in 2010 with Inter Milan, and on this trip he encountered seven later visits none as triumphant. After Benfica’s loss, he was asked about the crowd’s reception.

He stressed that while memories are not his fuel, the chants for his name were appreciated and acknowledged on the pitch. When he is in London, he often runs into Chelsea fans on the street and hopes to return here in twenty years with his grandchildren.

In another comment, the former Manchester United boss described the UK’s culture of memory: people do not forget those who brought them happiness, whether he arrived with United or with Inter, and he anticipated a similar response when visiting Old Trafford with United or with Inter.

During the night, Mourinho also delivered notable moments: he saluted the fans who cheered his name, urged Benfica supporters to stop throwing objects at Enzo Fernández, and even sprinted onto the pitch to retrieve a ball.

The man once nicknamed “Special One” was the focus of attention on his Stamford Bridge return.

After the final whistle, Mourinho hugged Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca before quickly slipping into the tunnel, signaling disappointment in the defeat and deciding to limit further interactions with Chelsea fans.

Mourinho had recently taken charge of Benfica after leaving Fenerbahçe, returning to the Champions League—the competition he had won with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

Over his career he has collected 26 major trophies with Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Roma. But his last league title was a decade ago, and he had not coached a team in the Champions League for more than five years.

His hair is whiter now, and he says he is more selfless and less selfish—a fact that brings a smile to fans who have followed his long career. He also noted that he no longer travels to Portugal for “wars,” having even reached out to old rivals.

Early clashes

In his first week with Benfica, he did not hesitate to critique video technology, and he spoke to the referee at halftime about time-wasting by Rio Ave’s goalkeeper. He also publicly criticized his players, calling them naive after a late equalizer, a stance that is familiar to those who know him well.

Salomon Kalou, who joined Chelsea at twenty, quickly learned his manager’s honesty. Kalou said the most striking thing about Mourinho was his candor, a quality he respected as a player.

Even after leaving Chelsea, Mourinho’s blunt style persisted. In 2010, after Kalou scored against Inter, Mourinho reportedly approached the Chelsea team bus to warn him: be careful—when you were with me you didn’t score like that.

Football has evolved, but Mourinho told Benfica’s players he would be very direct, promising to say many good things and, yes, many bad things as well.

It has been eighteen years since his first spell at the club, yet that “sad day” in training remains etched in Kalou’s memory. Some Chelsea players shed tears, while others hid their faces as Mourinho bade farewell to each one individually.

Kalou, who wore Chelsea from 2006 to 2012, said: you do not just lose a manager; you lose a great person, a mentor, a fighter. The reason he’s known as Special One is that he moves people and gives the club something extraordinary.

Punchlines

And if you’re wondering about the sniper-like precision of his quotes, remember this: when Mourinho says he’ll be direct, expect a press conference that cuts through like a sharp blade—no dull moments guaranteed.

If life handed Mourinho lemons, he’d demand a trophy for the lemonade—and probably 50% of the proceeds as coaching royalties.