The Special One Jose Mourinho Gets a Not-So-Special Welcome Home
Well, it looks like José Mourinho won’t be sending a Christmas card to his old stomping grounds this year. Just days after being showered with love and adoration at Stamford Bridge, the self-proclaimed “Special One” got a rather different reception when he returned to Porto as the new manager of their arch-rivals, Benfica. Let’s just say the welcome mat wasn’t exactly rolled out. If anything, it was set on fire and then had things thrown at it.
The stage was set for a classic Portuguese showdown, the first O Clássico of the season at Porto’s fiery Estádio do Dragão. The air was thick with tension, and not just the good, “this is a massive game” kind. This was the “we used to love you, but now you’ve betrayed us” kind of tension. And Porto fans, bless their passionate, slightly unhinged hearts, made their feelings crystal clear.
What Did Porto Fans Think of Mourinho’s Return?
Subtlety was not on the menu. Instead of fond memories and polite applause, Mourinho was greeted by a sea of banners that were, to put it mildly, less than welcoming. One giant tifo took a direct shot at his famous nickname, declaring, “There is only one Special One – Futebol Clube do Porto.” Ouch. Another charming display featured pictures of his face with a big red slash through it, with his name written as “MOURinho,” just to make sure the message landed. It’s the kind of passive-aggressive pettiness you can’t help but admire.
The hostility wasn’t just limited to arts and crafts. As the game wore on, objects rained down from the stands, aimed squarely at the new Benfica boss. But this is Mourinho we’re talking about. The man has faced down Pep Guardiola, Arsène Wenger, and an entire nation of Italian journalists. A few mystery projectiles from the cheap seats weren’t going to rattle him. In a move of pure, unadulterated Mourinho, he simply bent down, picked up the debris, and carried on as if he were collecting souvenirs. The man’s ability to remain unflappable in the face of utter chaos is both infuriating and legendary.
Chaos in the Stands and on the Pitch
While Mourinho was busy curating his collection of thrown objects, things were getting ugly in the stands. Stewards and police had their hands full as fights broke out between the rival supporters. The drama had started even before kickoff, with hundreds of visiting Benfica fans stuck outside, unable to get into the away section. Benfica later released a statement blaming “unacceptable poor service” from the hosts, which is a polite way of saying it was a complete disaster.
On the pitch, the game itself was a tense, goalless affair—exactly the kind of frustrating, tactical grind that Mourinho has built a career on. He later claimed that five of his players were suffering from a “self-esteem crisis” and that his pragmatic approach was a necessity. It’s a classic Mourinho excuse: when in doubt, blame the players’ fragile psyches.
Porto defender Jan Bednarek wasn’t buying it. After the final whistle, he accused Mourinho’s side of not even trying to win. It’s a fair point. Setting up your team to play for a goalless draw against your biggest rival is a bold strategy, but it’s peak Mourinho. He lives for this stuff. He thrives on being the villain, the party-pooper, the tactical mastermind who grinds out a result while everyone else is screaming for entertainment.
So, while his welcome back to Porto was anything but warm, you get the feeling that Mourinho wouldn’t have had it any other way. The boos, the banners, the chaos—it all just fuels him. He walked into the dragon’s den, took all the fire they could throw at him, and walked out with a point. Love him or hate him, you have to admit: there’s truly no one else like José Mourinho.
