Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca described José Mourinho as a «legend» prior to the return to Stamford Bridge of the Portuguese coach who had two successful spells in the London Club.
After five years from the Champions League, Mourinho is back in the European top club competition as the new coach of Benfica – and his first game in the competition phase happens to be on Tuesday in Chelsea, where he is still honored by fans.
Maresca held his press conference for the match in a suite in Stamford Bridge with photos from Mourinho who Occurrent League trophy in three different years Otilde-2005, 2006 and 2015.
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Most of the questions to the Italian were about the man who once mentioned himself as a «special», and Maresca said it would be a «privilege» to welcome him back in Stamford Bridge.
«For me personally, he is a legend for this club,» said Maresca. “And from Italy he is also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League, so he is a legend for various clubs in the world.
«That shows how good he is, how good he has been.»
Chelsea has lost three of the last four games in all competitions – two in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. It has added some pressure to a coach who led the team to the Conference League and Club World Cup titles at the end of last season.
Maresca thought it was necessary to remind us of those achievements in his first year and also to point out that of the five Losses of Chelsea in the past six months, four came when his team sent a player.
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Asked what he had to do more to get a similar popularity like Mourinho, Maresca said: “Keep winning trophies.
«I remember a moment last season … where the fans started singing» We have our Chelsea back. » I would certainly like it (to be popular with fans) in a day, but it is not my target.
Maresca said he had injury concerned about midfielders Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos and striker Joao Pedro because of ‘small problems’.
Published on September 29, 2025
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