December 09, (THEWILL) — Jose Mourinho has firmly dismissed any prospect of returning to Real Madrid, responding to speculation linking him with the role currently held by Xabi Alonso. The Portuguese manager, now leading Benfica, described his previous tenure at the Spanish club between 2010 and 2013 in decisive terms: “It’s a closed chapter; you’re the one who opened it.”
During his three years in the Spanish capital, Mourinho compiled an impressive 76.3 percent win rate in LaLiga, securing victory in 87 of 114 league fixtures whilst recording 16 draws and 11 defeats. His team scored 326 goals across those matches and claimed the 2011/2012 league title alongside the 2011 Copa del Rey and 2012 Supercopa de Espana. Notable signings during that period included Luka Modric, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien.
Benfica currently sit 30th in the UEFA Champions League league phase with just three points from five matches, placing significant importance on their upcoming fixture against Napoli. Mourinho earned his first competition win for the club in a 2-0 victory over Ajax, and another positive result would mark his first consecutive UCL wins since November 2018 with Manchester United.
The match will mark the eighth managerial meeting between Mourinho and Antonio Conte, their first encounter since the 2018 FA Cup final when Conte’s Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0. Conte holds the advantage with four wins from their seven previous meetings, compared with two for Mourinho and one draw.
Speaking ahead of the crucial European tie, Mourinho emphasised his consistent approach across 25 years in management. He described Napoli under Conte’s guidance in strong terms, noting the team now plays with greater strength in their manager’s tactical style.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
