Over two decades after declaring himself the “Special One”, Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, and was met not with scepticism, but with affection.
Now 62 and managing Benfica, Mourinho’s side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League. Yet the result felt secondary to the occasion, as chants of his name rang around the ground that once idolised him.
Supporters in both the Matthew Harding Stand and the Shed End sang his name during the second half, prompting a sheepish wave from the Portuguese manager. But there was no mistaking his focus.
“My desperation to succeed is even greater now,” he admitted post-match. “When I first came here, no-one was waiting for me. There were a lot of question marks. Now everybody thinks I have magic to make things happen.”
Speaking in Chelsea’s familiar media room, Mourinho was warmly greeted by an old colleague, Brian Pullman, who had worked at the club for 56 years before retiring in 2024. Mourinho grinned and joked with Pullman, asking “Where are my favourite biscuits?” before being presented with custard creams hidden under a tea towel.
That warmth was echoed throughout his return. He spoke at length with long-serving Chelsea employee Thresa Conneely, shared a relaxed moment with former player Joe Cole, and even stopped to sign a young fan’s shirt before heading to the dressing room.
“Of course I thank them,” Mourinho said of the Chelsea supporters. “I did it on the pitch. I live around here. I talk with them every day on the street. I hope to come back here in 20 years with my grandkids. They belong to my history and I belong to theirs.”
On the touchline, the old fire was still there. He contested decisions and urged more from his players. And in a flash of vintage Mourinho, he leapt from the dugout to intervene when Benfica fans hurled objects at Enzo Fernandez as the former Benfica man prepared to take a corner.
Waving his arms and urging calm, Mourinho played peacemaker, a far cry from the knee-sliding celebrator of 2004, but no less passionate.
While the match itself may not be remembered for the football, Mourinho’s return served as a poignant reminder of his enduring legacy at Chelsea.
Benfica did not win, and Chelsea were far from convincing, but the night belonged to Jose Mourinho, the Special One, still.
