Ugly moment Enzo Fernandez is pelted by angry Benfica fans in furious reaction after former star forced move to Chelsea – with Jose Mourinho desperately calling for peace

Jose Mourinho incredibly pleaded with his own supporters to stop berating ex-Benfica star Enzo Fernandez during their clash with Chelsea.

The Argentinian midfielder ruined his relationship with Benfica when he forced a move to Chelsea in 2023 worth some £120million. 

The Eagles’ Champions League clash with the Blues on Tuesday saw Fernandez face his former club for the first since his departure – and there was certainly no love lost between him and the travelling Benfica support. 

As Fernandez limbered up to take a corner in front of the away end at Stamford Bridge shortly before half-time, Benfica fans brutally hurled drinks bottles and other items at him amid desperate pleas from Jose Mourinho to stop.

The Portuguese boss, making his return to west London, even left his technical area to walk down towards the away end before signalling to his fans to cease their targeting of Fernandez.

After briefly delaying his corner, the Chelsea skipper on the night eventually escaped the abuse as he jogged away. 

Benfica fans hurled objects at Enzo Fernandez during their clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

The Argentinian midfielder was forced to delay his corner-kick amid the onslaught

Fernandez incredibly left the Eagles after just three months with the club in a move which left a particularly bitter taste in the mouths of Portuguese fans. 

Shortly after Fernandez’s departure to London, Benfica president Rui Costa gave a scathing account of his conduct at the club. 

‘Enzo Fernandez did not want to stay at Benfica. He didn’t give us any chance,’ the former Portugal international said. 

‘I did my best, I’m sad, but I’m not going to cry for a player who didn’t want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to change his mind.

‘During deadline day we found an agreement to sell Enzo to Chelsea in the summer but he didn’t want to stay.

‘From the moment Enzo realised [Chelsea would pay] the value of the clause it was unrelenting. We tried to insist, but the player did not show any openness to continuing at Benfica.

‘I proposed to Chelsea that he stay until the summer for a lower value, but the player did not want to continue at Benfica – and this is when everything changed.’

On a night billed as the return of the Special One to a club where he was so successful, Mourinho’s side made a bright start to Tuesday’s Champions League tie squandering a few early chances. 

Jose Mourinho pleaded with his own supporters to stop their targeting of Fernandez

The Chelsea skipper on the night spent just three months at the Eagles after joining in 2022

However an own goal from Richard Rios put the hosts ahead on 17 minutes, a lead they held on to until the final whistle to win 1-0. It was far from an entertaining affair, but a much-needed win for Enzo Maresca nonetheless.

Mourinho made a return to Benfica, where he began his coaching journey, a couple of weeks ago after being dismissed by Fenerbahce. 

His side headed into the fixture against Chelsea unbeaten under the experienced 62-year-old.