Returning to Stamford Bridge with Benfica, the legendary manager admits he will have to “block” his emotions against the club where he became a legend.
As he prepares for a poignant return to Stamford Bridge, José Mourinho has confessed that facing his former club, Chelsea, is the last London fixture he would have chosen.
Now 62 and leading Portuguese giants Benfica, Mourinho comes back to west London more than two decades after his first appointment as Chelsea boss. It was there he built his legendary reputation, winning seven major trophies—including three Premier League titles—across two celebrated spells that transformed the Bridge into a fortress.
Yet, ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash, the man known for his passion insists he will lock away his emotions. “Honestly, I would prefer to play, just to speak about London, against Arsenal, Fulham or West Ham,” he told TNT Sports. “Not Chelsea, if I could choose.”
He elaborated, “It’s not something that gives me an incredible pleasure, but I block my emotions. Tomorrow, I’m just going to do my job the best I can.”
While Mourinho has long enjoyed a special bond with Chelsea’s supporters, he isn’t anticipating a hero’s welcome. “I think they are not here to see me. They are here to support their team, which is the logical thing,” he said, adding pragmatically, “I know that in this case, I’m not blue, I’m red.”
Reflecting on his storied past, Mourinho acknowledged the “lots of good memories” from a period where his Chelsea team lost just once in 99 league home games. However, he admitted he doesn’t have time to dwell on nostalgia. “I’m so focused and so happy to work at a high level that I don’t have time to enjoy too much the good things of the past.”
Turning his attention to his old club’s recent struggles, Mourinho believes Chelsea are on their way back under Enzo Maresca, who ended a three-year trophy drought last season. “I think they are back on track,” he stated, noting that even in difficult periods, Chelsea has “managed to win trophies.”
Ironically, he pointed to one of those recent triumphs—the Club World Cup—as a potential reason for their current rocky form, which has seen them lose three of their last four matches.
“I think their situation is very similar to Benfica’s – difficult,” Mourinho explained. “The [Club] World Cup stopped clubs from having a proper pre-season… Not the best physical condition, not the best preparation.”
But he ended with a note of caution for his own team, acknowledging Chelsea’s deep resources: “They have fantastic players… so I think in the end they will be back on track too.” For one night, however, Mourinho will be doing everything in his power to ensure that comeback doesn’t start against him.
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