In his glory days, José Mourinho would celebrate thrilling goals by sprinting down the touchline, sometimes sliding on his knees in pure joy.
Yesterday (Tuesday), when Mourinho returned to his former club Chelsea as head coach of Benfica, the most dramatic moment was once again a sprint down the sideline—but this time, urging his own fans to stop throwing objects onto the pitch.
Benfica, playing their fourth match under Mourinho, lost 1–0 to Chelsea due to an own goal by Richard Rios in the first half. Chelsea fans warmly welcomed their former manager, chanting his name in appreciation of his
achievements—three Premier League titles and four other trophies—none of which have been matched by any other Chelsea manager.
Mourinho, now 62, waved to the crowd in gratitude. He was cheered again when he stepped onto the pitch to retrieve a spare ball, but quickly disappeared down the tunnel after the final whistle, following a handshake with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.
This scene contrasts sharply with 20 years ago, when Mourinho, fresh off a Champions League win with Porto, led Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 50 years in 2005, and repeated the feat the following season.
After a dip in form, Mourinho left Chelsea in 2007, then won the Champions League again with Inter Milan in 2010—knocking Chelsea out on the way to the final. He later managed Real Madrid before returning to Chelsea, where he won a third Premier League title. His subsequent moves to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were seen as unforgivable by many Chelsea fans, followed by a stint at Roma.
With lucrative offers drying up, Mourinho joined Fenerbahçe in Turkey for just over a year before returning to Portuguese football with Benfica.
Asked after the loss to Chelsea whether he still had the same drive as in his early career, Mourinho insisted he was more motivated than ever. “My continued presence in coaching reflects my desire to face challenges daily. I’m focused on winning the next match,” he told reporters.
Mourinho also felt Benfica deserved a better result: “We started well and controlled the game. We definitely had plenty of chances
relief after two consecutive Premier League defeats and a 3–1 loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. Commenting on Chelsea’s improved defensive performance, he said: “Sometimes you have to learn how to win by any means… at least we’ve learned how to win despite the red card.”
Striker João Pedro was sent off after receiving a second yellow card as a substitute—marking the third time in four matches that Chelsea finished with ten men.
