Chelsea 1-0 Benfica: Jose Mourinho wanted his second victory at Stamford Bridge as opposition manager, but remained disappointed as the Blues scored three points
The loving soccer writer, who spends most of his life on the highway, will take part in games across the country. I’m passionate about soccer, my work, and mirrors. The Premier League is the best in the world and I always believe England has a chance. Arsene Wenger: Author of Wenger, The Inside Story of Arsenal.
The showman is still there, but there was no fairy tale return for anything special. Jose Mourinho received the hero’s welcome from Stamford Bridge Faithful, but his night was eventually defeated at the hands of his old club.
Sometimes Mourinho’s touchline antics and histories were almost more interesting than the match itself, as Chelsea put in what was supposed to be a daily Champions League victory.
Be careful, Enzo Maresca’s subordinates rarely make their own life easier. This time they achieved their own goals to get their first win in the campaign this season.
And Chelsea substitute Joao Pedro received a march order after getting his second yellow card during the time of injury. The self-destruction button never seems to be far away.
Mourinho is now 62 years old, his hair is gray and he looks behind him in the days he won this competition. This is his eighth return trip to the enemy bridge to Stamford Bridge, and incredibly he manages only one victory.
read more: Alejandro Garnacho feeds Allie McCoist with Chelsea’s decisive actionread more: Jose Mourinho was forced to intervene as Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez targeted Benfica supporters
He’s back in 2010 when Mourinho’s Inter Milan defeated Chelsea on his way to win the Champions League.
The biggest shame of Mourinho’s glittering career is that he never won the biggest prize for his two spells in charge of Chelsea.
But sadly – that was the case. Mourinho was still very enjoyable, delivering all the sounds and emotions in the build-up, and in fact his Benfica team was proud of him. Even after falling behind Richard Rios’s own goal, the Portuguese giants leaned over and refused to fight a good fight.
Mourinho played his usual pre-match mind game by talking about his chances of winning the Champions League with Maresca and Chelsea. After all, Mourinho said he won the Club World Cup.
As for this evidence, Chelsea sees a long way from being a real candidate, but perhaps the home side was barely killed, so Char’s attacks may have worked at Maresca.
That’s the story of Chelsea’s seasons. They make life hard for themselves, and even when they win, it’s a long way from persuasive.
Chelsea always gives you a chance. Benfica got theirs seven minutes after a low shot from Belgian winger Dodi Luquebakio almost oppressed past Robert Sanchez, but the Chelsea keeper pushed it to the post. It was as close as Benfica had.
It was a major disappointment and Benfica was paid immediately. Pedro Neto’s diagonal ball was pulled back by Alejandro Garnacho and his low cross was put into his own net by Rios.
It was a gift for Chelsea. It was almost strange as teenager Tyrike George (19) led the line. And this is the player who, after all, almost sold to Fulham on the deadline.
George must have thought that he was coming, going, or that he was terribly lost for Chelsea, as he struggled to reach the end of service that came from Neto and Garnacho.
Pedro fitted enough to be a second-half replacement, but after one stupid yellow, it was second for a high challenge. Madness.
Maresca’s biggest problem is pushing his identity to this Chelsea team. They may appear unrecognizable from one week to the next. And that shows in their performance and inconsistency.
Benfica applied pressure and Chelsea had half the chance, but perhaps one of the best moments of the night was when Mourinho played Peacemaker.
Mourinho goes to travel fans and pleads that former Chelsea Benfica midfielder Fernandez stops showering with missiles. Something I’ve never seen from Mourinho.
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