Mourinho defeated but adored on emotional Chelsea return

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since taking charge of the Portuguese side, where his team fell 1-0 to Chelsea in the Champions League. Despite the defeat, the 62-year-old was met with resounding affection from the home crowd. Chelsea supporters loudly chanted Mourinho’s name three times during the match, with both the Matthew Harding Stand and the Shed serenading their former manager. Mourinho responded with modest waves, his focus still firmly on the game.

“When I first came here no-one was waiting for me,” Mourinho said post-match. “Now everybody thinks I have magic to make things happen.”

The night wasn’t just about football. Mourinho shared warm moments with long-time Chelsea staff members and former players, including a light-hearted reunion with ex-employee Brian Pullman, who offered him custard creams as he once did during Mourinho’s Chelsea tenure. Mourinho also spent time with Joe Cole and greeted fans, signing shirts before kick-off. On the touchline, Mourinho was characteristically animated—challenging refereeing decisions, urging his players on, and even stepping in to calm fans after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was targeted with objects from the stands while taking a corner.

“Of course I thank them,” Mourinho said of the Chelsea supporters. “They belong to my history and I belong to theirs. I hope to come back here in 20 years with my grandkids.”

Though Benfica were outmatched financially and on the scoreboard, Mourinho’s return was a reminder of the enduring bond between the ‘Special One’ and the club he once transformed. For Chelsea fans, the result mattered less than seeing their beloved former manager back on familiar ground.