Mourinho is still the special one.

Mourinho's team narrowly made it through to the play-off round.

The UEFA Champions League play-off draw has produced one of the most emotionally charged matchups of the round, with Real Madrid facing Benfica, marking Mourinho's return to the Santiago Bernabeu. This is no ordinary visit. It's the return of "The Special One" to a stadium where he once spent unforgettable nights.

An interesting match.

Just a few days ago, Benfica beat Real Madrid impressively 4-2 in the final Champions League qualifying match. Coach Mourinho had almost a perfect game, as Benfica's organized style of play overwhelmed Real Madrid's expensive star-studded squad.

But can Benfica repeat that in the play-offs? Real Madrid still have the superior individual quality, and Benfica's element of surprise is gone. Moreover, Alvaro Arbeloa has learned a great deal from that humiliating defeat.

Benfica's chances will still lie with Mourinho. In a season where Benfica's squad is far inferior to many of their European rivals, the presence of "The Special One" on the coaching bench is highly anticipated.

It's no exaggeration to say that if Mourinho hadn't been managing Benfica, few would have believed the Portuguese team could have overcome Real Madrid and navigated a grueling Champions League schedule after a shaky start.

Obviously, there's still no guarantee that another well-thought-out plan from Mourinho could secure a victory for Benfica. Football is still about moments, and with stars like Kylian Mbappe or Vinicius, a single moment of brilliance is enough to defeat their opponents. The Benfica vs. Real Madrid match will be a contest between system and individual skill, between organization and star power.

Fate has once again brought Mourinho back to Bernabeu, but this time he needs to complete what he left unfinished with Benfica, even after the historic victory in the final Champions League qualifying match.

Star-ranking system

Trubin's goal in the final qualifying match is considered one of Benfica's most important moments of the past decade. It saved their European campaign and confirmed Mourinho's tactical genius.

Trubin made Estádio da Luz explode with excitement.

It's no exaggeration to say that if the Ukrainian goalkeeper hadn't scored in that situation, Benfica's season would have taken a completely different turn, and Mourinho's future at Estádio da Luz would almost certainly have been over.

Just a few days earlier, around 200 Benfica fans appeared at the team's training ground, blocking the entrance to express their dissatisfaction. This stemmed from the team's recent string of poor results, which had left the fans extremely disappointed.

Benfica have been struggling in all competitions since the start of the season. Two weeks prior, Benfica had been eliminated from both the League Cup and the Portuguese Cup.

Mourinho was going through a difficult time at that point, with Benfica having just been eliminated from both domestic cups, their chances of progressing in the Champions League looking bleak, and trailing league leaders Porto by 10 points in the Primeira Liga by 10 points.

Even the Benfica management considered terminating Mourinho's contract early. However, the victory against Real Madrid helped the Portuguese coach turn the situation around.

The moment Mourinho instructed goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push forward and join the attack in injury time, leading to the historic header that helped Benfica come from behind to win 4-2 against Real Madrid, once again confirmed his nickname "The Special One".

Mourinho is not past his prime. He remains an icon of a resilient, strategic, and strong-willed coach. Despite the passage of time, Mourinho continues to be an inspiration for Benfica's miraculous achievements.

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