Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot says the Blues' run of red cards "cannot happen" and the team have to be "smarter".

Joao Pedro was dismissed for a second yellow card deep into stoppage time in Tuesday's win over Benfica to continue a run of three red cards in four matches.

The Brazil international will now be suspended for Chelsea's next Champions League match against Ajax.

"Sometimes you have to be smart about things," Melchiot told Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"You had two minutes before the end when Pedro gets the red card. The game before that was [Trevoh] Chalobah, the game before that before that was [Robert] Sanchez.

"The last two people can say were moments in games where things happen but Joao Pedro yesterday has to be smart.

"It's your second yellow card with two minutes to go. This is nothing to do with it being necessary. Sometimes it's necessary and you have to take one for the team and you don't care.

"This one wasn't having to take one for the team - it was so far away from his goal. You have to be a little bit smarter. Regardless of you playing in the Champions League, the emotions are going, you have to think.

"Don't pick up cards like that. The whole team have to be smarter because things like this cannot happen to this team. You miss key players now. You already have one striker injured [Liam Delap] and now you'll have one striker suspended.

"What are you going to do next?"

Listen to the full chat from 1:18:00 on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League.

Here are some of your comments:

Nick: The performance didn't really matter - after the defeat at Bayern Munich, and self-destructing in consecutive Premier League games, all that mattered was securing three points. Job done.

Chris: I would like to know what has happened to the discipline at the club. Joao Pedro manages to pick up two yellow cards in 35 minutes on the pitch, leaving us with 10 men again and then we struggle to put away a side like Benfica. I am really starting to lose my patience with Enzo Maresca!

Steve: This is surely the beginning of the end for Maresca. The team is obviously ravaged by injury, but in an age where dynamic direct football seems to be returning, he's still playing predictable slow and sideways football. Chelsea have some good young players but they need letting off the leash, not to be held back.

Mike: We showed our inexperience as the second half went on. We couldn't keep the ball and gave Benfica momentum. Fortunately they couldn't take advantage.

James: It wasn't pretty but a win is a win. At least the red card was late enough not to prove costly. Enzo Fernandez carried on his excellent form and did not let the pressure get to him. Good to see Mourinho back at the bridge too!

Nick: This will do a very young, inexperienced team the world of good in the Champions League against a team with much more experience and a determination to try and get Chelsea players sent off. That it worked did not reflect well on the referee, who was harsh with Pedro's first yellow and could have booked several Benfica players for simulation.

Paul: Good job we were playing a poor Benfica side who had enough possession and opportunities to have won the game. Pedro Neto had enough space on the right wing first half to graze a herd of cows yet not one Chelsea player had the skill and brains to find him.

Pete: Slightly worrying about the shaky defense and the sheer lack of creativity without Cole Palmer. Neto was brilliant, as was Marc Cucurella. Moises Caicedo was fantastic and I thought Enzo did his very best. We lacked that killer pass or link-up play with a front man, not to mention another red card. I think we need patience - a fully fit squad could be a real threat.

Image source, Getty Images

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Chelsea's scrappy win over Benfica is "job done" but the side "always seem to be a work in progress".

The Blues edged a 1-0 victory on Jose Mourinho's return thanks to a first-half own goal but struggled for coherence after Enzo Maresca rotated his starting XI.

"It wasn't a great spectacle, wasn't a thriller," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "On reflection, the result was far more important than the performance for Chelsea.

"The frustration of the fans was apparent. Maresca ended up reversing the changes he made to the side by bringing on the players that you'd have expected to start midway through the second half.

"But, 20-25 minutes after the game you take a step back and think he's made those changes because of the fixtures that they've had and the tough run of results. This was a game where they had to get a result and stop that run of defeats."

Chelsea made five changes from the side beaten by Brighton at the weekend, including leaving Joao Pedro on the bench, and Robinson recognised the challenges Maresca faced.

"They were in a difficult spot and came up against a Jose Mourinho side who came here very organised," he said. They had their chances on the break and caused Chelsea problems. A draw wouldn't have been an unfair result.

"Missing an out-and-out number nine was glaringly obvious. Tyrique George started down the middle and I think there was a bit of fluidity missing. It wasn't a slick performance but it was a job done. It won't have got Chelsea fans off their seats but they'll go away reasonably happy.

"It was scrappy at times, it wasn't a pretty performance, but the result was far more important than anything else.

"Chelsea always seem to be a work in progress. It's the never-ending project."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Many of Wednesday's back pages feature Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge as new Benfica manager, which ended in a 1-0 win for Chelsea.

The Star call the legendary Portuguese boss the 'not-so Special One' in reference to his most famous quote with a similar picture of him protesting carried by both The Star and the Daily Express, which opts for the headline 'Defeated One'.

The Mirror focus more on the Chelsea angle, calling the win 'Mour Like It' as the Blues returned to winning ways following back-to-back Premier League defeats and a loss to Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League game.

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Dro Fernandez, 17, has no intention of listening to offers from abroad, despite interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez had a barrage of objects hurled at him from the away end as he was trying to take a corner but eventually had the last laugh against his former side.

The Argentine, 24, led his team out as captain and helped secure a win in the first Champions League match at Stamford Bridge for two-and-a-half years.

Having helped get the ball out wide, Fernandez was lurking to score a tap-in had Richard Rios not turned into his own net in the 18th minute.

It was an example of the World Cup winner's increased goalscoring instinct, adopting those Frank Lampard-style late runs into the box to score three goals this season.

Indeed, Fernandez has been involved in 16 goals in his past 27 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea (seven goals, nine assists), with only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah having a better record among Premier League players.

That final-third impact has been key with star attacker Cole Palmer having suffered patchy form in 2025 before succumbing to a persistent groin injury.

Fernandez has had to be robust and has started all nine of Chelsea's matches in all competitions this campaign.

That shows the leadership and grit Enzo Maresca needs from one of his leaders – as did the fact he was the most fouled player and involved in the most duels on Tuesday night.

Of course, you can see why the Benfica fans would have been so angry at losing him, even for a then-British transfer record £107m in 2023. He left just six months after joining from River Plate, and also forced his exit.

He may well be public enemy number one in Lisbon, but he is increasingly winning over the west Londoners, who chanted his name in a much-needed victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports: "The effort was very good. First half I think we were better compared to the second half in the way we managed the ball and created chances. Second half we dropped.

"In the last two, three games we have conceded two, three goals and it's not possible to do that. We need to be better defensively but a clean sheet is nice."

On Joao Pedro's red card: "A good thing is we are improving and we can win with 10 players. But I think he did not touch on the second one, but the dynamic of it is that it was dangerous.

"For us it is a journey that started this season and, game after game, we get better."

Forward Pedro Neto, also speaking to TNT Sports: "We knew the difficulties we had in the first game and we tried to work hard to manage those difficulties and today was the resilience of the team that came through.

"I think we had a very good game. In the end we could have controlled it a bit more with the quality of what we had but in the end we have the three points.

"It's a tough team to face at home, we knew we needed to work hard, we did well."

On keeping a clean sheet: "It's important if we get a clean sheet, it's like we are closer to getting the win.

"We have shown what we can do but I think we can do even better."

Did you know?

• Chelsea have picked up three red cards in their past four games in all competitions - as many as were shown in the direction of a Blues player in the 49 games before that.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea make five changes with Argentine late summer signings Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Buonanotte starting in attack.

Benoit Badiashile makes his first start since the Club World Cup while Malo Gusto and Tyrique George are also drafted in.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Buonanotte, Garnacho, George.

Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, James, Achemapong, Hato, Lavia, Walsh, Gittens, Estevao, Guiu, Joao Pedro.

A returning Jose Mourinho has picked former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi among his visiting Benfica team.

Benfica XI: Trubin, Dedic, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Rios, Barrenechea, Lukabakio, Aursnes, Sudakov, Pavlidis

Subs: Soares, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Obrador, Schjelderup, Araujo, Oliveira, Veloso, Rego, Berreiro, Prioste

Image source, BBC Sport

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday, three involving Premier League teams, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Atalanta v Club Brugge (17:45)

• Kairat Almaty v Real Madrid (17:45)

• Atletico Madrid v Eintracht Frankfurt

• Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham

• Chelsea v Benfica

• Galatasaray v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Inter Milan v Slavia Prague

• Marseille v Ajax

• Pafos v Bayern Munich

Kick-offs 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Galatasaray v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play the Liverpool game".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

The Blues' 'bomb squad' has again has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form - specifically, why players such as Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi are not being used in the early rounds of cup competitions, like the Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln City.

In short, Chelsea have no intention to use Sterling or Disasi for the foreseeable future.

The decision was made at ownership level not to include them and manager Enzo Maresca has not even spoken to the pair.

There is a view that this treatment is dropping their value and not serving the club's interests.

However, Chelsea also benefit from promoting young players that do have a future at Stamford Bridge in those competitions.

The Blues want to push talented 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong, while Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho are crying out for minutes in wide positions.

There is perhaps more of an argument to use Disasi amid a defensive injury crisis, but Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana are not projected to be out for long.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

Chelsea fan Tom Overend tells BBC Sport that recent criticism directed at head coach Enzo Maresca is "unfair".

The Blues sit eighth in the Premier League after collecting eight points from the opening six games, and have only won once in their past five matches.

All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, when Jose Mourinho returns with Benfica in the Champions League.

"A Chelsea legend," Maresca called him in Monday's news conference and that sentiment is shared by fan Teema Nicholls, who also spoke to BBC Sport about the former manager.

• Get news alerts about your Premier League club

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Jose Mourinho, the self-proclaimed 'Special One', entered the Drake Suite quietly on Monday, greeting the diverse international media - three times larger than the group that welcomed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca - with a simple "ciao".

The room - a hospitality space honouring Chelsea's title-winning managers - features three photographs of Mourinho hoisting each of his three Premier League trophies, alongside images of Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte. Relaxed and charismatic, he joked with player Dodi Lukebakio, who briefly answered questions before the main event.

A host of Chelsea staff made a special effort to see the former manager Mourinho back at Stamford Bridge.

They witnessed a news conference masterclass. Asked in Portuguese about the photos on the wall, he said: "I'm not a Blue any more. I'm a Red now and want to win."

However, when asked a similar question in English, he replied: "I will always be a Blue. I am part of their history. They are part of my history. I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea. And they helped me to become a bigger Jose. When I say I am not a Blue, I am only speaking about the job I have to do tomorrow."

Those comments also appeared to show that Mourinho is ready to accept legend status and adulation from the home supporters on Tuesday, despite spells at Tottenham and Manchester United.

He made an effort to speak to each individual he knew from his last spell in English football, before having an hour-long training session in front of the cameras on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Feeling nostalgic? Relive Mourinho's first Chelsea news conference in 2004 below...

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told the media in Monday's Champions League news conference: "I am not a blue any more. I am red now and I want to win."

Speaking in Stamford Bridge's Drake Suite, which has three photos of him and celebrates the title-winning matches, he was very matter of fact about his return to the Bridge and how Blues are simply Benfica's opponents.

"It's not so deep to be back here because I live in London and am used to going past here every day," he said. "I have been back here with three different teams – Benfica is my fourth."

But when pressed about his time at the club and his legacy, he added: "Of course, I will always be a Blue. I am part of their history and they are part of my history.

"I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me to become a bigger Jose.

"When I say I am not a Blue, I hope everybody understands that I am speaking about the job that I have to do. But in relation to these pictures, there are not many clubs that do this, because in many, many clubs it looks like there is a fear of what happened in the past and there is a continuous transformation of pictures.

"Sometimes it looks like they want to delete people that made history in the clubs.

"I don't think Chelsea fans will boo me because, at least on the street, they are the ones that disturb me for pictures and autographs."

Chelsea, Tottenham and Brighton are interested in Vasco de Gama's 19-year-old Brazilian striker Rayan. (Sport Witness), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A red card born of an error followed by a bad decision, defensive changes and an eventual collapse. Sound familiar? Chelsea repeated many of the frustrations from the defeat at Manchester United in the home loss to Brighton.

In this case, the Blues were at least winning the game when they decided to remove all their attacking threat. But once again, switching to a defensive stance reduced their ability to create anything, without actually helping them keep goals out.

Enzo Maresca has since admitted these were mistakes and that he is learning from them - but that is cold comfort for fans who are already very worried.

Last season, Chelsea survived a desperate spell of form in the winter because of the points they had accumulated in the autumn. This year, they have started much more slowly. In addition, the fact they had no pre-season and were playing in the Club World Cup until July means a mid-season dip is even more likely.

Talk of the manager being under pressure is premature - but things are heading in the wrong direction, even if there is a long way to go.

The squad are half exhausted and half injured - and it is not yet October. The same lack of experience which hurt us so much last term still haunts us.

Maresca's mea culpa shows that it is not just his squad who are learning on the job.

There is no leadership at the back and no coherent, consistent attacking play. More pertinently, there is now no Cole Palmer to make up for those failings.

This week could be another punishing one. Jose Mourinho's Benfica come to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to face a wounded Chelsea, and will smell blood.

Then Liverpool on Saturday is an even more worrying prospect.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Image source, Getty Images

Pedro Neto says Jose Mourinho is "one of the biggest names in Portugal" and facing him will be a point of "pride".

Mourinho will return to the club he won three Premier League titles with over two spells as Benfica manager in the Champions League on Tuesday, 18 years on from his final game as Chelsea boss.

Much of Enzo Maresca and Pedro Neto's pre-match news conference was dominated by chat around the Mourinho's return, with Portugal international Neto paying tribute to his countryman.

"As a Portuguese [player] it will be a pride to play against Mourinho," he said.

"What he represents to the club and what he represents to Portuguese people as well, the opportunity he gave to Portuguese people to go around the world and play in the best teams and manage the best clubs.

"We are really looking forward to playing against them and it is a really good opportunity to bounce back as well."

After beginning his managerial career briefly with Benfica, Mourinho shot to superstardom with his success as Porto manager, winning five trophies in two scintillating seasons - including the Champions League - before moving to Chelsea in 2004.

A trophy-laden career has also included several controversies, but Neto believes his perception in his homeland will always remain positive.

"You cannot have a divided opinion on him," he added.

"What he did for Portugal, what he did for Portuguese people, what he has won. People in Portugal respect him a lot and know the value that he has. Benfica hired him for that reason. He is one of the biggest names in Portugal with [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Luis] Figo.

"It would be a privilege to be managed by Jose Mourinho, who wouldn't want to be managed by him?"

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

One of the most fascinating aspects of manager Enzo Maresca's media conference was that it took place in the Drake Suite at Stamford Bridge.

There are three pictures of now-Benfica manager Jose Mourinho lifting Premier League titles in this room, which celebrates every league title at Chelsea, beginning with the first lifted by Ted Drake in 1955.

It nicely sets up Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge and Maresca was full of respect for the legendary manager.

However, there were also interesting themes exploring Maresca's own fraught relationships with the Chelsea fan base - as Mourinho is largely expected to be welcomed back despite having managed Tottenham and Manchester United.

Maresca looked very relaxed and even offered up his own concession that he hasn't performed well managing his team when down to 10 men.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Benfica at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos all have "small problems" so will be assessed this afternoon to see whether they can be available.

• He wants to "maintain" a high level team for the Champions League but added they "have many players out" and also play Liverpool at the weekend.

• He said "it's a privilege to come up against" Jose Mourinho, who "is a legend for this club".

• On the opposition: "It's probably a little bit more difficult because all the games I have watched is with the former manager. It will be a completely different game compared to the Club World Cup game."

• He said he would like to achieve Premier League and Champions League success that Mourinho did at Chelsea "one day" and "to enjoy these kind of moments together".

• On fans still singing Mourinho's name but not his: "I would like it one day for sure, but it is not my target. They have chanted 'we have our Chelsea back' before and if they can sing that then I am already happy."

• He said "there is no reason to be negative about the last six months" because they have only lost five games in all competitions and four of those have been when the Blues were down to 10 men.

• On ill-discipline: "After a review of the last two games, I should have done better in terms of decisions but it is a learning process. There is no reason we need to create panic. I don't think we need to defend ourselves. Compared to last season we have all improved. Learning to play with 10 players is something I need to do better."

Follow all of Monday's Champions League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will not feel like he is in a position of weakness when facing the media today before a Champions League match with Benfica.

The Italian has endured a difficult post international break and only won once in five matches - an unconvincing victory over League One side Lincoln City - and the latest 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday was disappointing.

However, there is no sense his job is in any immediate danger.

His post-match meeting with Chelsea's four sporting directors, Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell, along with co-owner Behdad Eghbali at Stamford Bridge at the weekend was routine.

As part of that meeting, it was mentioned that four of Chelsea's five defeats in the last five months have been in matches where one of their players has been sent off.

There is an acknowledgement that Chelsea are in a rut through injuries at the moment.

Yet, there is still a belief Maresca can qualify for the Champions League to achieve the club's goals before a post-season meeting to appraise his performance as manager.

Maresca will be confident he will continue for at least seven more months.

Regardless, today will likely feel like Jose Mourinho's day.

The legendary former Chelsea manager returns to Stamford Bridge in a later media conference that will be highly attended by both British and Portuguese press.