Jose Mourinho is back at Stamford Bridge this week, and if there’s one thing he always does, it’s grab the spotlight.
His Benfica team comes to London after a 2-1 win at the weekend, but the bigger story is all about timing.
The return of the man known as “The Special One” comes while Chelsea are struggling under new manager Enzo Maresca – and there are already questions being asked about his future.
Chelsea in Poor Form
Chelsea have won just one of their last five games – and that win was a close one against League One side Lincoln City.
They have also lost to Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Brighton, and fans are getting worried.
The loss to Brighton especially raised concerns. It led to a meeting involving co-owner Behdad Eghbali, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and recruitment team members Joe Shields and Sam Jewell.
Maresca Still Has Time – But Pressure Is Growing
For now, Maresca’s job is safe, and the club will wait until the end of the season to make a proper decision. But it’s clear that even he is frustrated.
In the summer, Maresca asked for a new goalkeeper and a central defender. So far, those two positions have caused problems: Robert Sánchez and Trevoh Chalobah have both been sent off in recent defeats.
While the club understands his concerns, results have put a spotlight on those weaknesses.
Mourinho Could Make Things Worse for Chelsea
All of this makes Mourinho’s return more dangerous.
The Portuguese manager is famous for beating the odds, and he would love nothing more than to remind Chelsea fans of his old magic — by beating his former club and adding to their problems.
If Benfica win, it won’t just be a surprise – it would also raise more questions about Chelsea’s rebuild.
Chelsea Need to Stay Focused
This week is all about calming things down at the club.
The board still expects Chelsea to qualify for next season’s Champions League – and for that, they want stability around the manager.
At the same time, Chelsea need to perform in this season’s Champions League, too.
The word from Cobham is that Maresca will be backed in January, with a serious push expected to sign a top goalkeeper and a strong centre-back.
But make no mistake: if Mourinho wins at Stamford Bridge, it will hurt – especially for fans who still admire him.
No one at Chelsea is talking about sacking the manager yet, but Maresca knows he needs to show progress – and fast.
Mourinho has spent his career proving people wrong.
Maresca, for now, just wants people to believe in him.