It's not the first time that Jose Mourinho He is facing Chelsea, it is not the first time he has returned to Stamford Bridge, but few - especially until about ten days ago - could have imagined that the Portuguese and the London club would be rivals in the Champions League.
It happened, or rather it will happen tonight when Chelsea welcomes Benfica in the 2nd round of the league stage and aims for their first points after losing to Bayern in the opening game.
What kind of reception awaits the Special One, are the fans of the "blues" ready to calm their passions after the open conflict with Mourinho while he was still on the bench at Manchester United? Back then, they called Mourinho a "judo".
- I have three English championship titles. Until a Chelsea manager appears with four titles - this "Juda" is number one - Mourinho responded to the fans' name-calling.
"HE'S COMING TO SHOW THAT HE'S STILL HERE"
There is every chance that Mourinho will return to London as an enemy, even though he is someone who has written Chelsea's history. In addition to three Premier League titles (in two terms), he has also won the FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield - he is definitely the coach who, with huge money, is Roman Abramovich, the club's rise at all levels began.
- Jose is coming to show that he is still here. He has a big motive before the match with Chelsea - BBC reports a statement from Mourinho's close friend Jose Peseira.
Only four coaches have accumulated more Champions League appearances than Mourinho, who has managed teams in the elite 151 times and celebrated 80 victories. Carlo Angelotti entered 218, sir Alex Ferguson 206 Arsen Wenger 194, a Pep Guardiola 182. Of those 151, Mourinho spent 59 on the Chelsea bench and achieved 30 triumphs and 16 draws with 13 defeats.
"Mourinho brought experience, ambition and a winning mentality to Benfica," he said. Jose Morais, who worked with his compatriot at Inter, Real Madrid and in his second term at Chelsea.
It all started in 2000 on the Benfica bench, continuing into 2025, when it seemed unthinkable because Mourinho was in charge of Fenerbahçe until the end of August, and the Lisbon giants had just eliminated him in the Champions League play-offs. Then the Portuguese was sacked, and Benfica's coach followed him. Bruno Lie after the defeat to Qarabag in the 1st round of the league stage.
- Mourinho was anonymous 25 years ago, but he lit a fire in Lisbon even then. Now, after 26 titles in his career, he can do a lot - Morais pointed out.
LIVERPOOL IN ISTANBUL, BAYERN AND INTER BIG FAVORITES
Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday to end a long winning streak, and in the Champions League, at least on paper, they have a tough job - a visit to Galatasaray at a packed Rams Park.
- The goal is to win, as always. We don't have time to think about losing in the Premier League, the schedule is such that what's most important is what comes next - said the Reds manager Arne Slott.
Liverpool wants two out of two, as do Bayern and Inter, who are big favorites - against Paphos and Slavia Prague, respectively.
The Bavarians seem to be the most powerful of all the big teams at the moment, so the Cypriots are not expected to cause him any problems, but Vincent Company is cautious:
- Bayern's DNA is such that they must not underestimate their opponent - the Belgian is clear.
Inter, on the other hand, has three triumphs in a row including the Champions League and Serie A, now looking to complete their poker against the uneasy Czechs.
- We will have a problem if we think we have an easy game ahead of us - notes the Inter coach Christian Kivu.
Today's program opens with our Atalanta Nikola Krstović - Club Brugge arrives in Bergamo.
All pairs - Tuesday: Atalanta - Club Brugge, Kairat - Real Madrid (18.45), Atletico Madrid - Eintracht, Bode/Glimt - Tottenham, Chelsea - Benfica, Galatasaray - Liverpool, Inter - Slavia Prague, Marseille - Ajax, Paphos - Bayern (21);
Wednesday: Qarabag - Copenhagen, Royal Union - Newcastle (18.45), Arsenal - Olympiacos, Barcelona - Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen - PSV, Borussia Dortmund - Athletic Bilbao, Monaco - Manchester City, Napoli - Sporting, Villarreal - Juventus.
Bonus video:
