"Chelsea avoid any stumbles on their trip down memory lane. The narrative about how Mourinho's return would show how far his old club's standards have dropped never materialised. There was no alchemy from the 62-year-old; no expert tactical plan to confound Enzo Maresca. Then again the Mourinho of 2025 is not in charge of one of the Champions League's giants. Benfica were a tepid proposition and rarely looked capable of denying Chelsea a narrow victory."
"He was once derided as a traitor, taunted when he visited with Manchester United and Tottenham, but this was a different kind of vibe. There was no spite at the start, only appreciation for the man who transformed Chelsea into a trophy machine after joining from Porto in 2004, and as the Mourinho love-in ramped up during the early stages it was hard not to wonder if Maresca will ever be feted in the same way."
Chelsea beat Benfica 1-0 thanks to a messy own goal and a disciplined defensive performance that suggested belief for tougher matches ahead. José Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge as a subdued figure who received appreciative songs and offered only humble waves. There was no tactical mastery from Mourinho and Benfica rarely threatened, leaving Chelsea to grind out a narrow win despite injuries. Joao Pedro received a second yellow and was sent off in stoppage time. Enzo Maresca, under pressure after a league defeat to Bayern, secured a necessary positive result but will demand improvement before facing Liverpool.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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