The “Special One” is welcomed back with love, but insists he “feeds on victories” after a narrow defeat mars his emotional return to Stamford Bridge
An emotional night at Stamford Bridge saw Jose Mourinho receive a hero’s welcome from Chelsea fans, but the man himself was left frustrated as his Benfica side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat on his highly-anticipated return.
The Champions League tie was punctuated by chants of Mourinho’s name from the home supporters, who celebrated the most successful manager in their history. Despite the warm reception for the man who delivered three Premier League titles, it was a first-half own goal from Benfica’s Richard Rios that decided the match, handing Mourinho his first loss in four games in charge of the Portuguese club.
While the fans were happy to relive past glories, Mourinho revealed the defeat was the only thing that truly mattered to him. “I don’t feed myself with these memories,” he stated after the match. “I feed myself with victories.”
He did, however, express deep gratitude for the enduring bond with the Chelsea faithful. “I thank the fans… 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.”
For Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, the victory provided a much-needed respite after a difficult start to the season. The win was marred, however, by a late red card for substitute João Pedro—the team’s third dismissal in just four games.
Wryly addressing the disciplinary issue, Maresca noted, “At least we learned how to win with a red card.” He acknowledged the performance was a step up from recent collapses and emphasized the importance of the result, stating, “We needed the win… Sometimes you need to learn to win in an ugly way.”
Similar Posts:
- Mourinho’s Return Heaps Pressure on Struggling Maresca
- Gritty Chelsea Grind Out Vital Victory Over Benfica
- Mourinho: I Didn’t Want to Play Chelsea
- Chelsea Face Potential Suspension of Key Players Ahead of Crucial Liverpool Clash
- Jadon Sancho’s Return to Man United in Doubt as Chelsea Fans Claim Him for Good
