Jose Mourinho is heading back to Stamford Bridge, but he insists there will be no room for nostalgia once the whistle blows.
The Benfica manager returns to face Chelsea in the Champions League, a club where he made history and lifted three Premier League titles.
For many fans, it’s a night packed with memories. For Mourinho, it’s all business.
The 62-year-old has been open about his emotional ties to the Blues. “Chelsea belongs to my history, I belong to Chelsea history,” Mourinho told UEFA in the build-up to the game.
“I will realise where I am before the match, I will realise where I am after the match; during the match, I think I have the capacity to forget and just to compete.”
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Jose Mourinho back in the spotlight
Mourinho’s career has come full circle. After spells at Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Spurs, and most recently Fenerbahce, he is back in Portugal with Benfica — 25 years after his first brief stint at the club.
His appointment came as a surprise after he was sacked in Turkey, but Benfica president Rui Costa moved quickly, reportedly offering a two-year deal.
The Champions League tie against Chelsea arrives early in his reign and presents the perfect stage for another Mourinho storyline.
Supporters at Stamford Bridge are expected to greet him warmly, despite his past with rival clubs.
Season ticket holder Tim Rolls summed up the mood, saying Mourinho “did so much for the club” and predicting a “very positive” reception.
But Mourinho is not in London for a reunion. Close friend Jose Peseiro revealed the manager’s mindset: “He wants to go and beat Chelsea to show everyone ‘I am here.’”
Whether he can mastermind another famous European night remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the “Special One” will leave his heart in the tunnel and keep his eyes firmly on the prize once the game kicks off.
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