Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea return prompts old memories, mixed feelings

LISBON – It was upon Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Chelsea in 2004 that he proclaimed himself the “Special One”, although that sheen has worn away two decades on as he returns with Benfica to Stamford Bridge for the Champions League encounter on Sept 30.

The Portuguese coach claims he is more “humble” and “altruistic” these days, but at his Benfica presentation he still made the point that even though he is considered to have struggled in recent years, he has led two teams to European finals.

Bringing those big nights and silverware to Benfica is the 62-year-old’s new mission, after he was sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce in August.

Mourinho won the Champions League with FC Porto and Inter Milan, as well as three English Premier League titles in two spells at Chelsea and La Liga with Real Madrid, and is a bigger “celebrity” than Portuguese sides are accustomed to having on their benches.

Benfica president Rui Costa is believed to have turned to Mourinho to give himself extra weight in upcoming club elections in October, although he denied that.

“Mourinho is Benfica’s coach because we believe he has all the credentials to lead a club like ours,” insisted Costa.

A comfortable 3-0 win at AVS on his second debut at the helm, 25 years after he first coached Benfica, was followed by a 1-1 draw at home against Rio Ave and a 2-1 victory against Gil Vicente on Sept 26.

Chelsea fans are looking forward to seeing the coach once again and the club – cashing in – put the game in the top tier of ticket pricing, even though Benfica are not the most illustrious opposition.

“Stop exploiting our loyalty,” said the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust in a statement, but the game is set to sell out.

Like Mourinho, Chelsea have lost their way in recent years, with Manchester City and Liverpool dominant in England.

However, the Blues won the Club World Cup this summer and the Uefa Conference League earlier to end a four-year trophy drought and collect the first silverware since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in 2022.

“There was a big change with crazy investment and a period of a few years where it looked like they lost direction,” said Mourinho last week.

“For a couple of years, it was hard. For one that loves the club, it was hard.”

Mourinho had a strong relationship with Chelsea supporters, particularly in his first spell at the club.

He forged an us-against-them mentality as critics blasted the Blues for their spending under former owner Roman Abramovich.

Mourinho threw a Premier League medal and his blazer into the crowd at Stamford Bridge after securing back-to-back league titles in April 2006 by beating Manchester United 3-0.

However, when he returned with the Red Devils in March 2017, some Chelsea fans chanted “Judas” at him and he also went on to manage the Blues’ London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Mourinho held up three fingers, after United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat, to remind Chelsea supporters of the three Premier League trophies he had brought them.

“If the fans are great to me, then great. If they are not, that’s fine and no problem, but I am happy to be back,” said Mourinho, who will likely receive a warm welcome, at least at the start.

No stranger to touchline antics or antagonising opposition supporters, whether that reception is maintained may depend on how the night unfolds.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called it a “privilege” to face the Portuguese. The Italian said: “For me, personally, Mourinho is a legend not only for this club, but also other clubs... He has already shown how important a manager he has been and is.”

Two of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals are also in action, with Liverpool travelling to Turkey to face Galatasaray, while Tottenham head north of the Arctic Circle to face FK Bodo/Glimt.

The Ali Sami Yen Stadium provides one of the more febrile backdrops in European football and Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk wants his side to match that with “intense pressure”.

He said: “These kind of home games are when we have to prove ourselves on this stage. We will play like Galatasaray and think like Galatasaray. We need to apply intense pressure; we need to make our opponents feel it.”

Meanwhile, Spurs renew acquaintances with Bodo, whom they beat in the semi-finals en route to Europa League glory last term. Bodo sporting director Havard Sakariassen told the BBC: “Tottenham actually played a really good game here at Aspmyra against us...

“For us, it was a lot of learning. The reflection for us after the game was (to ask if) there was enough level on the physical side. So, actually, that brought something to the table for us that we are grateful to have the knowledge about.

“It means we have since then changed and worked in a slightly better and more reflective way to see if we can realise the potential in the physical side of our players.”

In other notable ties, Kazakh side Kairat Almaty host Real Madrid while Bayern Munich travel to Cyprus to meet Pafos. AFP