Chelsea Boss Maresca on Mourinho Matchup: An “Absolute Honour”

“No Reason to Panic” say Maresca, calm amidst Chelsea slump

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remains calm despite the team's recent slump. Find out what he had to say about facing Jose Mourinho and Benfica in the Champions League.

“I don't think we need to defend ourselves in this moment because the reality is that I have a very good feeling with the squad we have...”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remains calm despite the team's recent mini-slump, attributing their struggles to a series of red cards that have significantly impacted their performance. “There's no reason to panic,” Maresca said, highlighting that four of Chelsea's last five defeats came after a player was dismissed. The team's only loss with a full squad in the last six months was their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich earlier this month.

Maresca acknowledged that he could have made better decisions during the matches against Manchester United and Brighton, where Chelsea was reduced to 10 men. However, he's optimistic about the team's future, stating, “I have a very good feeling with the squad we have.” Maresca also expressed excitement about facing Jose Mourinho's Benfica at Stamford Bridge, describing it as an “absolute honour.”

Chelsea will look to bounce back from their recent losses when they host Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday. Maresca's team needs a win to revive their European campaign, while Benfica, under Mourinho, will aim to make a statement in London. The Chelsea boss is also monitoring the fitness of Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, and Joao Pedro, who picked up knocks during Saturday's defeat to Brighton.

Chelsea urgently need a win against Servette on Tuesday to get their European campaign back on track, having lost three of their last four matches. Manager Enzo Maresca is aware that his team must improve their discipline, having been reduced to 10 men in recent Premier League defeats to Manchester United and Brighton. Cutting out these errors will be crucial for Chelsea's success in the upcoming match.

Chelsea's poor run includes a loss to Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League match. However, Enzo Maresca remains relaxed, pointing out that four of Chelsea's last five defeats came after a player was sent off. The Italian manager acknowledged that he could have made better tactical decisions in the matches against Manchester United and Brighton, where Chelsea was reduced to 10 men.

Maresca's calm demeanor ahead of the Servette match reflects his confidence in his team's abilities. Despite the recent losses, he believes Chelsea can turn things around with improved discipline and smarter decision-making on the pitch. The upcoming match against Servette presents an opportunity for Chelsea to bounce back and revitalize their campaign.

🚨 Enzo Maresca: “After reviewing last two games, Man United and Brighton, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt”.

“For me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players. It's not something normal”. pic.twitter.com/rPux4I4SLx

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2025

Enzo Maresca believes there's no need to panic despite Chelsea's recent struggles. “For me personally, there is not any reason that we need to create panic, knowing that football, you know better than me, football is a crazy world,” he said. Maresca pointed out that the only loss with a full squad was the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, implying that the team's disciplinary issues have been a major factor in their recent losses.

“If you lost five games in six months and you need to say things to defend yourself, that means that it's a crazy world.

“I don't think we need to defend ourselves in this moment because the reality is that I have a very good feeling with the squad we have.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed his excitement about facing Jose Mourinho, saying it would be an “absolute honour” to welcome the Portuguese coach and his Benfica team to Stamford Bridge. Mourinho, 62, was recently appointed as Benfica's head coach after being sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce. He signed a two-year contract with Benfica, citing the club as one of the biggest in the world and expressing his eagerness to take on the challenge. This upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two highly experienced coaches.

🚨🛑 Enzo Maresca on his future: “The reality is there is NOT any pressure”.

“The pressure we have is the pressure of being at Chelsea, you need to win games”. pic.twitter.com/4c7pOapNRX

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2025

Jose Mourinho's tenure at Chelsea was marked by tremendous success, with three Premier League titles and other notable trophies won during his two stints at the club. His leadership played a significant role in transforming Chelsea into a dominant force in English football.

Mourinho's impressive record at Chelsea includes eight trophies, comprising domestic titles such as the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. His ability to build and maintain a winning team earned him a reputation as one of the most successful managers in Chelsea's history.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is closely monitoring the conditions of Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, and Joao Pedro, who suffered injuries during Saturday's defeat to Brighton. The trio's fitness will be assessed ahead of the crucial Champions League match against Benfica at Stamford Bridge.