Jose Mourinho’s "special" reunion: Benfica challenges Real Madrid in a Do-or-Die Champions League clash
The Portuguese coach praised Álvaro Arbeloa and commented on Xabi Alonso’s departure.
The final matchday of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League league phase has served up a narrative that feels scripted in Hollywood. José Mourinho, the man who redefined Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, now stands in the opposite dugout as the manager of Benfica. For the "Eagles" of Lisbon, the stakes couldn't be higher: they need a result at the Estádio da Luz to secure a spot in the knockout playoffs.
Standing in his way is the club he once led to a record-breaking 100-point La Liga title—a Real Madrid now managed by one of Mourinho’s most loyal "soldiers," Ávaro Arbeloa.
Living in the Present: Mourinho’s Stance on Madrid
During the pre-match press conference, the atmosphere was electric as local and international media pressed Mourinho on his feelings about facing the "Casa Blanca." True to his enigmatic persona, Mourinho attempted to downplay the nostalgia.
"Honestly, it doesn’t interest me," Mourinho stated firmly. "I live my career day by day. I think about today and tomorrow, not yesterday. What happened, happened, and that’s it."
Despite his stoic words, the history is impossible to ignore. Mourinho’s tenure in Madrid saw him manage icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Iker Casillas, breaking the dominance of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona and laying the foundation for the club's modern European dominance.
The "Alvaro" Connection: Master vs. Apprentice
The most emotional layer of this matchup is the bond between Mourinho and Arbeloa. Arbeloa was famously one of Mourinho’s most vocal defenders during the turbulent years in Madrid. Now that Arbeloa has taken the reins of the first team, Mourinho was full of praise—with a competitive caveat.
"I want everything to go well for him," Mourinho admitted. "Arbeloa is capable of coaching any club in the world. Real Madrid with Arbeloa? Imagine how much I want them to succeed. Only tomorrow do I want things to go badly for them. After that, I want them to win always, because I love Madrid and I love Álvaro."
On the Departure of Xabi Alonso
The "Special One" also touched upon the recent managerial shift at the Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso, another of Mourinho’s former pupils, recently departed the club after a stint that failed to replicate his historic success at Bayer Leverkusen.
"Xabi is another one of my boys," Mourinho reflected. "I have only positive memories of him. It was a great joy to see what he did at Leverkusen and that he reached the Real Madrid bench. How it ended... in football, nothing surprises me. But his career will go in a new direction and he will be happy, because he has already proven the level of coach he can be."
The Tactical Battle: Pragmatism over Poetry
Tactically, Mourinho knows that Benfica is the underdog against the reigning firepower of the "Merengues." He hinted at a pragmatic approach to nullify Arbeloa’s attacking threats.
"Analizing this Real Madrid, I would like to play them differently than I actually can," Mourinho confessed. "We cannot play with qualities we don’t have. To win, we must score one more goal than the opponent. We have to play to score but defend well and be balanced."
A Night of High Drama
As the Estádio da Luz prepares for a sell-out crowd, the narrative is set. Will the master show the apprentice one final trick, or will Arbeloa’s Real Madrid push Mourinho’s Benfica out of the competition? In the 2026 Champions League, the past and future are about to collide.
