In an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, new Benfica manager José Mourinho expressed his admiration for Chelsea winger Pedro Neto, describing him as “one of the best wingers in the world” ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Jose Mourinho expresses desire for Chelsea winger Neto to join Benfica
The mutual respect was evident in the pre-match press conference, where Neto had first spoken of his pride in facing the Portuguese legend.
Mourinho responded in kind, though he was pragmatic about the likelihood of bringing the player to Benfica, acknowledging the financial disparities between the clubs.
The build-up to the match has been dominated by Mourinho’s homecoming.
The former Chelsea manager, who won three Premier League titles across two spells with the club, was clear about his enduring connection to the Blues.
“I will always be a Blue,” Mourinho stated.
“I am part of their history. They are part of my history. I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea, and they helped me to become a bigger José.”.
He elaborated that while it would be “my Chelsea before the start of the game and after the game,” during the match itself, his focus would be entirely on Benfica.
Reflecting on his legacy, Mourinho also reaffirmed his status as “the biggest one” in Chelsea’s history, noting that his record stands until another manager wins four league titles for the club.
The fixture pits two teams looking to build momentum. Mourinho has begun his tenure at Benfica with two wins and a draw in his first three games, while he believes his former club is “back on track” under coach Enzo Maresca after recent trophy successes.
However, Chelsea enters the match after a 3-1 defeat to Brighton, a game in which a red card for Trevoh Chalobah proved to be a turning point.
Despite this recent dip in form, the Chelsea hierarchy has offered their full backing to Maresca.
