Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea he will not be driven by sentiment when he returns to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to lead Benfica in their Champions League clash. The Portuguese coach, who enjoyed two trophy-filled spells at Chelsea, is preparing for a highly anticipated reunion with the club where he carved out his reputation as one of the Premier League’s greatest managers.
Mourinho guided Chelsea to six major honours between 2004 and 2007, including two league titles and an FA Cup, before departing for Inter and later Real Madrid. He made an emotional return in 2013 and added another league crown before leaving again in 2015. Despite his affection for the club, the 62-year-old insists he will be focused entirely on securing victory for Benfica.
“I am feeling home. I already played here with Spurs, Manchester United and Inter. But I am not a Blue now. I am Red. And I want to win,” Mourinho told reporters ahead of the game. “Chelsea will only play for a victory, especially after losing the first game against Bayern Munich. We will have to defend well to win. Our tactical approach is to try and win the game.”
The draw has been unkind to Benfica, who must navigate a group that also contains Real Madrid and Newcastle. Mourinho acknowledged the challenge, remarking that their Champions League fixtures are harder than Chelsea’s, and underlined the importance of chasing points at Stamford Bridge.
While he expects to be welcomed back by fans, Mourinho remains relaxed about his reception. “I don’t think Chelsea fans will boo me. At least when I am on the street they ask me for selfies and pictures,” he said with a smile.
The build-up has also centred on the absence of Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin problem. When asked about Palmer’s absence, Mourinho responded cheekily: “I’m happy he will be missing. My Chelsea team was a winning machine with big investment and ambition, but then they seemed to lose some direction.
Enzo Maresca arrived, and the puzzle is being completed piece by piece, and they won the Conference League. Now they have a good team, and if Palmer isn’t a problem for Chelsea, that’s a big problem for me. If Sudakov or Pavlidis don’t play, that’s a big problem for me.”
Mourinho has only just returned to Benfica, the club where his managerial career began in 2000. Since rejoining earlier this month he has overseen wins against AVS and Gil Vicente as well as a draw with Rio Ave. However, the challenge is steep in Europe after his predecessor Bruno Lage was dismissed following a shock 3-2 defeat to Qarabag in their group opener, a match in which Benfica squandered a two-goal lead.
The stage is set for Stamford Bridge to welcome back a familiar figure, but this time Mourinho’s focus will be firmly on Benfica’s ambitions. Chelsea may see him as part of their past, but on Tuesday night he will stand as their biggest obstacle.
