Mourinho’s return to London ends in defeat

Jose Mourinho couldn’t celebrate his return to “Stamford Bridge”, as Benfica was defeated 1-0 by Chelsea in the Champions League match, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The Portuguese coach received a warm welcome from the London fans, who chanted his name throughout the evening, but an own goal by Richard Rios in the 18th minute gave the victory to the "Blues".

Despite the strong emotions and memories from his golden era at Chelsea—where he won seven major trophies including three Premier League titles—Mourinho said he didn’t find comfort in the past.

“I don’t feed myself with memories, I feed myself with victories. Of course I keep the memories, but on the pitch I was fully focused on the game,” he said, thanking the fans for their eternal support.

On the other hand, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca could finally breathe a sigh of relief after his team’s first Champions League win of the season.

The Blues showed more stability than in their recent defeats against Brighton, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, although discipline problems persisted, as Joao Pedro was sent off in added time.

“We needed this win. In the first half we controlled the game, scored, and created chances. Sometimes you have to learn to win even in an ugly way,” said Maresca, emphasizing that Chelsea still has many absentees in the squad.

This was Mourinho’s first loss in four matches with Benfica, while for Chelsea, the win over the Portuguese side was an important step in regaining confidence in a season that started with difficulties.