Rafa Benitez lifted the lid on his relationship with Jose Mourinho and made his feelings known on the Special One joining Benfica. The pair first locked horns in England back in 2004, when Benitez arrived at Liverpool just two weeks after Mourinho swaggered into Chelsea. What followed was a feud laced with mind games, press-room barbs, and an incredible 15 clashes in just three seasons.
Mourinho is back!
Mourinho, now 62, is back where his managerial journey truly began. After his short and unsuccessful stint at Fenerbahce, cut short by a painful Champions League qualifying defeat to none other than Benfica, the ‘Special One’ has returned to Portugal with a point to prove. He has signed up to steer Benfica until at least 2027, but the Portuguese giant will demand results and trophies.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBenitez still feels the edge
When asked about Mourinho’s homecoming, Benitez could not hide his "part excitement" as revealed to Pressed on whether the animosity has softened over the years, Benitez made it clear the rivalry may have mellowed, but it never truly faded.
“We’ve met a few times with Uefa meetings and it is OK, but nothing like that. We’ve never spoken about those games," he said.
From ghost goals to penalty shootouts, Liverpool versus Chelsea in the mid-2000s defined European nights. And central to it all were Benitez and Mourinho, locked in an unrelenting battle of wits.
Mourinho still chasing glory
Mourinho’s competitive fire shows no sign of dimming. At 62, he remains desperate to win, desperate to prove himself, desperate to silence doubters who claim the modern game has passed him by. Benfica offers both a platform and a risk: he has history with the club, but expectations will be sky-high.
Getty ImagesUCL date set with Chelsea
Mourinho's first assignment comes this Saturday against AVS, a relatively modest curtain-raiser. But it is the looming trip to Stamford Bridge on September 30 that is already drawing all the headlines. A Champions League clash against his old flame Chelsea, in front of a fanbase that still sings his name, could define the early days of his Benfica reign.