Jose Mourinho Returns To Stamford Bridge As Benfica Manager

‎Jose Mourinho makes his return to Stamford Bridge this week, and as always, the spotlight follows him.

‎His Benfica side head to London buoyed by a 2-1 weekend victory. Yet the bigger narrative lies in the timing of this reunion.

‎It comes just as Chelsea stumble under Enzo Maresca, with the Italian already facing questions over his future.

‎Chelsea have managed just one win in their last five games, a narrow escape against League One Lincoln City, while defeats to Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Brighton have left bruises.

‎Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton intensified scrutiny on Enzo Maresca, with reports of a meeting involving co-owner Behdad Eghbali, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and recruitment chiefs Joe Shields and Sam Jewell soon after.

‎For now, his job remains secure and will be assessed fully at the end of the season. Even so, insiders indicate that Maresca himself is far from fully satisfied.

‎From the summer outset, he pushed for reinforcements in two key areas goalkeeper and central defence. Those very positions have already stung him, with Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah both seeing red in critical defeats.

‎Results have brought their flaws into focus, and the club’s top bosses know his stance on signings, but the frustration lingers.

‎That makes Mourinho’s return all the more dangerous.

‎The man who forged his legend by beating the odds would relish nothing more than reminding Chelsea of his enduring strengths by intensifying their current struggles.

‎A Benfica victory at the Bridge wouldn’t be a mere narrative-friendly upset; it would intensify the focus on Chelsea’s rebuild at a critical juncture.

‎For the Blues, this week is about restoring calm.

‎Champions League qualification for next season remains a non-negotiable target but the hierarchy wants stability around the dugout to ensure they get there.

‎And in the meantime, they also need to compete in this year’s version of the Champions League.

‎Inside Cobham, the message is clear: Enzo Maresca will be backed, with January likely to deliver a new goalkeeper and a top-level central defender.

‎Still, appearances count, and a defeat to Mourinho, once a beloved figure at Stamford Bridge, would cut deep. Officially, there is no talk of replacing the manager at this stage.

‎Yet Maresca is well aware he must demonstrate progress to keep belief in his project alive. Mourinho has made a career of proving people wrong.

‎Maresca, right now, just needs people to believe in him.