Mourinho: Chelsea memories don't 'feed'
Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho runs on to the pitch to retrieve loose ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Related content Photos fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #41 Estevao runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica German referee Daniel Siebert shows a yellow card to Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi (unseen) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Croatian forward #09 Franjo Ivanovic (L) listens to instructions from Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho before being substituted on during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios scores an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) vies with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (L) falls on Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (R) clears the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl (C) clears the ball from the feet of Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian midfielder #05 Enzo Barrenechea (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #40 Facundo Buonanotte during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (L) vies with Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic falls over the barrier during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (R) chases down Benfica's Belgian midfielder #11 Dodi Lukébakio during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) vie with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Police officers stand on duty above a merchandise stall ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica A Deliveroo cycle rider passes Benfica fans stood outside an Italian restaurant ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser A Sky Sports reporter speaks into the camera as they work beside a photo of Chelsea's former Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, ahead of a Benfica press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca takes a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro (C) and teammates take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #19 Alejandro Garnacho takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto, Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea players take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto reacts during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Beside a photo of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca speaks at a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - bodoe glimt - tottenham topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Gabonese forward #97 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2ndL) shoots to score past Ajax's Czech goalkeeper #01 Vitezslav Jaros during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's French defender #28 Benjamin Pavard (L) and Ajax's Belgian forward #11 Mika Godts fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's players including Marseille's English defender #04 Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, Marseille's US forward #22 Timothy Weah, Marseille's Belgian goalkeeper #40 Jelle Van Neck, Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao and Marseille's Italian defender #33 Emerson Palmieri celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025.
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Jose Mourinho insisted fond memories of his time at Chelsea
were not enough to satisfy him after Benfica were beaten 1-0 on his return to
Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Former Blues boss Mourinho was given a warm welcome by
Chelsea fans who chanted his name on several occasions throughout the Champions
League tie.
But the 62-year-old ended an emotional evening frustrated
that Benfica couldn't turn their solid display into a tangible reward.
An own goal from Richard Rios in the 18th minute proved
decisive as Benfica were beaten for the first time in Mourinho's four matches
in charge.
After winning seven major trophies, including three Premier
League titles, across two spells with Chelsea, Mourinho is the most successful
manager in the history of the west London club.
While he was twice sacked by former owner Roman Abramovich
and angered Chelsea fans by managing rivals Tottenham and Manchester United,
time has healed those wounds and Mourinho's latest homecoming was a love-in
from start to finish.
Ever the contrarian, Mourinho disagreed that he should be
comforted by the show of affection because the loss was all that mattered to
him.
"I don't feed myself with these memories," he
said. "I feed myself with victories. Of course I take the memories. On the
pitch I was focused on the game, but you have always a little bit of the sound.
"I thank the fans. I live around here and when I'm in
London I meet them every day on the street. 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."
There was more disciplinary woe for Chelsea boss Enzo
Maresca when substitute Joao Pedro was sent off in the final minute of stoppage-time
for a high challenge.
That brought Chelsea's tally of red cards to three in four
games.
"At least we learned how to win with a red card,"
Maresca said.
It was a more solid Chelsea performance than in Saturday's
home defeat against Brighton, when they collapsed following Trevoh Chalobah's
second-half dismissal, and also an improvement on recent losses to Manchester
United and Bayern Munich.
Maresca had come under fire after Chelsea's slow start to
the season and he acknowledged the significance of their first Champions League
win this term.
"We needed the win," he said. "First half we
controlled the game, scored and created more chances.
"We had some players on the pitch who unfortunately
were not 100 per cent. They were playing because we have seven, eight players
out.
"Sometimes you need to learn to win in an ugly
way."
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