Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has begun his mind games ahead of the crucial UEFA Champions League clash against his former club, Chelsea.

The Special One will be returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2021.

With both Chelsea and Benfica losing their UCL openers to Bayern Munich and Qarabag respectively, a victory for either side will prove crucial on Tuesday night under the floodlights of Stamford Bridge.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Mourinho, who has had two different spells with the Blues, claims he remains the most successful manager in the London club's history, unless another manager surpasses his three Premier League titles.

“Chelsea is a winning machine that has, in the past two or three years, had a moment without trophies,” Mourinho said.

“They won something before my time, then my team kept winning, and then a transformation of new teams, new coaches, and more trophies. European trophies, the biggest one, and the Champions League.

“I am the biggest one until someone wins four.”

WDN