Jose Mourinho personally intervened after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez had objects thrown at him from Benfica fans at Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez strolled over to take a corner in the first-half of Tuesday’s Champions League clash and initially applauded the travelling Benfica fans.
The 24-year-old spent one season at Benfica before joining Chelsea at the start of 2023 in a then-British record deal worth £107m.
Objects were thrown at Fernandez as headed to the corner flag, forcing the midfielder to step away and referee Daniel Siebert to clear the area.
Fernandez look dejected at the response he received from his former club’s fans and Mourinho was quick to intervene, marching down the touchline from his technical area and urging the supporters to behave better.
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‘What a manager, he’s a class act,’ said one Chelsea fan, while another said:’Respect to Jose for defending Enzo in that heated moment.’
Mourinho, who had two largely successful spells in charge of Chelsea, returned to his first club Benfica earlier this month.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Mourinho said he would ‘always be a Blue’ but insisted he was determined to get a result with new club Benfica.
‘I will always be a Blue,’ said Mourinho. ‘I am part of their history and they are part of my history.
‘I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea, and they helped me to become a bigger Jose.
‘It will be my Chelsea before the start of the game and after the game but during the game it’s my Benfica and that’s all that matters.
‘When I say I am not a Blue, I am only speaking about the job I have to do tomorrow.’
Mourinho blew the Chelsea fans a kiss after they serenaded the Special One in the early stages of the Champions League clash.
Benfica trailed Mourinho’s former club at half-time after defender Richard Rios scored an own goal trying to clear Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
Chelsea were desperate to pick up their first points of their Champions League campaign after losing 3-1 to Bayern Munich in their opening game of the tournament.
Enzo Maresca’s side were not in brilliant form ahead of the visit of Benfica, however, losing two of their last three games, including a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at the weekend.
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