Own goal ruins Jose Mourinho’s homecoming as former Blues boss suffers first defeat since taking charge at Benfica
London, England – Jose Mourinho suffered a 1-0 defeat on his return to Stamford Bridge as Benfica fell to Chelsea in Champions League action Tuesday, with Richard Rios’s first-half own goal proving decisive.
The Portuguese manager received a warm reception from Chelsea fans despite the loss. It’s his first defeat since taking the Benfica job this month after his Fenerbahce spell ended rather abruptly in August.
Mourinho Gets Standing Ovation at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea supporters gave Jose Mourinho exactly the welcome he predicted, and honestly, maybe even more than he expected. His name echoed around Stamford Bridge multiple times throughout the match. Fans rose in unison to applaud the man who, let’s be honest, transformed their club into a European powerhouse back in the mid-2000s.
“I’m always a Blue,” Mourinho had declared on Monday. Turns out he wasn’t exaggerating about the reception.
The 62-year-old remains closely tied to Chelsea despite bouncing around several clubs since. Three Premier League titles and seven major trophies across two spells between 2004 and 2015, working alongside then-owner Roman Abramovich to build what became a genuine superpower in west London. That kind of legacy doesn’t fade.
But here’s the thing: Stamford Bridge hasn’t been kind to Mourinho when he’s sitting in the away dugout. Tuesday’s loss extended his winless run at the stadium to seven matches since leaving Chelsea for the second time in 2015. He’s come back with Manchester United, Tottenham, and now Benfica, all losses or draws. His only away victory at the Bridge? That came with Inter Milan in 2010, when he knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League on his way to lifting the trophy. Poetic, in a way.
Own Goal Decides Scrappy Contest
Benfica actually started brighter, which might’ve surprised some people. Vangelis Pavlidis forced Robert Sanchez into an early save following some slick passing, and moments later, Dodi Lukebakio’s drive was pushed onto the near post by the Chelsea keeper. You could sense Mourinho’s game-plan taking shape, expose Chelsea’s shaky defense and hit them on the counter.
Heorhiy Sudakov should’ve done better with another opening, but Sanchez smothered his tame effort.
Then came the moment that changed everything. 18th minute: Pedro Neto found Alejandro Garnacho inside the Benfica area, and the Argentine’s cross triggered absolute chaos. Richard Rios, in what can only be described as panic mode, cleared the ball straight into his own net from close range. Brutal.
Mourinho’s frustration was written all over his face, but he still found time to play peacemaker. When Benfica fans started throwing objects at Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez, who had a brief spell with the Portuguese club, Mourinho marched down the touchline and gestured firmly for them to cut it out. They listened. Say what you will about Mourinho, but he commands respect.
Chelsea should’ve doubled their lead right before halftime when young forward Tyrique George shot wide from a good position. 1-0 it stayed.
Benfica Push but Can’t Find Equalizer
The second half? Benfica came out with more urgency, but they just lacked that final bit of quality needed to beat Sanchez again. Chelsea defended relatively comfortably, nothing spectacular, just solid enough to absorb pressure without too much panic.
Even a late red card for Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, sent off in the final seconds for a high boot on Leandro Barreiro, couldn’t change the outcome. By then it was too little, too late for Mourinho and his side.
It’s the first loss of Mourinho’s brief Benfica reign, which only began this month after his Fenerbahce stint ended in August. His managerial star may be fading, a decade without a league title raises questions, but Tuesday proved he’s still box office. The man still owns a house near Stamford Bridge, for crying out loud. Part of him probably never really left.
What This Means for Both Managers
For Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, this result couldn’t have come at a better time. The Blues had dropped three of their previous four matches against Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Brighton. People were starting to whisper: can Maresca actually elevate Chelsea to genuine title contenders, or is he just treading water?
Sure, Maresca has delivered UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup trophies since taking charge last year. Though Mourinho, never one to miss a chance, somewhat dismissively downplayed both achievements earlier this week. Tuesday’s win, Chelsea’s fourth in nine games across all competitions, feels like a decent reply to that dig.
For Mourinho, the defeat stings but doesn’t define anything. He’s still the self-proclaimed “biggest” manager in Chelsea’s history, and judging by Tuesday’s ovation, plenty of Blues fans seem to agree with that assessment. Whether he can rediscover his trophy-winning magic at Benfica is anyone’s guess at this point, but one thing’s certain: whenever Mourinho rolls back into Stamford Bridge, it’s never just another Tuesday night match.
Both sides continue their Champions League campaigns now, Chelsea looking to build some actual momentum, Benfica hoping to shake off this narrow but frustrating defeat.
AFP
