Benfica's Mourinho plays down Real Madrid return rumour before rematch
Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho runs on to the pitch to retrieve loose ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Related content Photos fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #41 Estevao runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica German referee Daniel Siebert shows a yellow card to Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi (unseen) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Croatian forward #09 Franjo Ivanovic (L) listens to instructions from Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho before being substituted on during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios scores an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) vies with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (L) falls on Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (R) clears the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl (C) clears the ball from the feet of Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian midfielder #05 Enzo Barrenechea (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #40 Facundo Buonanotte during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (L) vies with Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic falls over the barrier during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (R) chases down Benfica's Belgian midfielder #11 Dodi Lukébakio during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) vie with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Police officers stand on duty above a merchandise stall ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica A Deliveroo cycle rider passes Benfica fans stood outside an Italian restaurant ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser A Sky Sports reporter speaks into the camera as they work beside a photo of Chelsea's former Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, ahead of a Benfica press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca takes a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro (C) and teammates take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #19 Alejandro Garnacho takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto, Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea players take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto reacts during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Beside a photo of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca speaks at a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - bodoe glimt - tottenham topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Gabonese forward #97 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2ndL) shoots to score past Ajax's Czech goalkeeper #01 Vitezslav Jaros during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's French defender #28 Benjamin Pavard (L) and Ajax's Belgian forward #11 Mika Godts fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's players including Marseille's English defender #04 Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, Marseille's US forward #22 Timothy Weah, Marseille's Belgian goalkeeper #40 Jelle Van Neck, Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao and Marseille's Italian defender #33 Emerson Palmieri celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025.
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Benfica coach Jose Mourinho insisted he is capable of saying no to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he played down rumours of a return to the Spanish giants on Monday.
Mourinho's Benfica host Real Madrid in a Champions League
play-off round clash on Tuesday, before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu
next week.
The 63-year-old Portuguese coach, who led Madrid between
2010-2013, has a clause in his contract with Benfica which would allow him to
depart the club, fuelling rumours Perez may turn to him again next season.
Mourinho guided Benfica to a 4-2 victory over Alvaro
Arbeloa's Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League in January,
leading both teams to face each other again in the two-legged play-off round.
"Can you say no? Yes," Mourinho told reporters
when asked if he could reject an approach from the Madrid chief. "Yes you
can."
Mourinho admitted he has a "great friendship" with
Perez and a permanent connection with Madrid, but said the break clause was
agreed because of the Benfica presidential elections which were approaching in
November 2025, a few weeks after he signed his contract.
"I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I
had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything and
that's all," said Mourinho.
"When (someone) leaves a club with those type of
feelings, I think a connection always exists... the fans think highly of me,
and that is fantastic, but with this I don't want to encourage stories that
don't exist...
"The only thing that exists is that I have another year
on my contract with Benfica. It's a special contract because it was signed in
an electoral period."
Mourinho said the deal was signed to protect a hypothetical
new president, although in the end Rui Costa was re-elected.
"There is a clause that is very easy for both me and
Benfica to break the contract, but the only thing that exists is the contract
with Benfica, and there is nothing with Real Madrid," said Mourinho.
"I would very much like to eliminate Real Madrid (from
the Champions League), but I would like Alvaro to win La Liga and for Alvaro to
stay at Madrid for many years.
"I think he's a coach with a lot of capability and a
boy who has Madrid within him, and with the personality to coach Madrid, which isn't
something anyone can do."
Mourinho said he expected a different game to the one his
side dominated in Lisbon against Madrid in January, and highlighted the power
of Arbeloa's side, record 15-time champions.
"The Real Madrid I expect tomorrow is the Real Madrid
who are number one favourites to win the Champions League," added
Mourinho.
Arbeloa said despite his good relationship with Mourinho he
was determined to reach the last 16.
"My objective is to eliminate Benfica, and after that
he can win everything else, after that I wish him the best," explained
Arbeloa.
The coach would not reveal whether French superstar Kylian
Mbappe was ready to start the game, after knee discomfort kept him on the bench
last weekend in the win over Real Sociedad.
"Kylian came with us, he will train and tomorrow you
will see if he plays or doesn't," said Arbeloa.
Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga said Los Blancos were
out for revenge at the Estadio da Luz.
"I think we have to change our mentality (from the
league phase game), we're better on that front now, we have to attack and
defend together," Camavinga told reporters.
"We want to play a great game, because losing a game
like that was tough for our fans... we want to win tomorrow with the spirit of
revenge."
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