Jose Mourinho admitted that the warm welcome from Chelsea fans on his Stamford Bridge return could not ease the frustration of Benfica’s 1-0 loss in the Champions League. The 62-year-old, who remains Chelsea’s most decorated manager with three Premier League titles and seven major trophies, was serenaded throughout the match, but insisted that applause means little without victory.
“I don’t feed myself with these memories,” Mourinho said. “I feed myself with victories. Of course, I take the memories. On the pitch I was focused on the game, but you always have a little bit of the sound.”
An own goal from Richard Rios in the 18th minute proved decisive, handing Benfica their first defeat in Mourinho’s four games in charge. While fans embraced his homecoming, Mourinho made it clear that sentiment cannot replace results. “I thank the fans. I live around here and when I’m in London I meet them every day on the street. I know that it’s going to be a relationship for ever. Hopefully I come back here in 20 years with my grandkids. They belong to my history and I belong to their history.”
How Did Chelsea Perform Under Pressure?
For Chelsea, the victory was much-needed after a poor run that included defeats to Brighton, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich. The result was also a relief for coach Enzo Maresca, who has faced growing pressure over the club’s slow start to the season.
Discipline, however, remains a major issue. Substitute Joao Pedro was sent off in stoppage time for a reckless challenge, marking Chelsea’s third red card in four matches. Despite that, Maresca saw positives in the performance. “At least we learned how to win with a red card,” he said.
Maresca described the night as a turning point for the team, noting their resilience and ability to hold onto a slim lead. “We needed the win,” he explained. “First half we controlled the game, scored and created more chances. We had some players on the pitch who unfortunately, were not 100 per cent. They were playing because we have seven, eight players out. Sometimes you need to learn to win in an ugly way.”
By Yockshard Enyendi
