Cole Palmer Terrifies Benfica as Chelsea Edge Mourinho’s Return
London, October 1, 2025 – Chelsea snapped their three-game losing streak in Europe with a gritty 1-0 win over Benfica at Stamford Bridge, spoiling José Mourinho’s emotional return. The match was decided by Richard Ríos’ first-half own goal from an Alejandro Garnacho cross, but the night belonged to Cole Palmer.
Former Blues star Joe Cole, on TNT Sports duty, couldn’t hide his admiration:
“Every time Palmer touched the ball, Benfica’s players looked petrified. They backed off, second-guessed, froze – it was like watching a predator stalk prey.”
Palmer Pulls the Strings
Since his £40m move from Manchester City in 2023, Palmer has grown into Chelsea’s creative heartbeat. Against Benfica, the 23-year-old delivered his most complete European display yet:
- 92% pass accuracy from 68 passes
- A stunning 40-yard diagonal sparking the move for the opener
- Six ball recoveries, the most on the pitch
He dictated play, linking with Pedro Neto and Garnacho while covering for a shaky backline that featured the erratic Marc Cucurella. Benfica managed 14 shots but failed to land a single effort on target, their attack blunted by Palmer’s control in midfield.
Cole summed it up with a line that went viral on X: “He doesn’t just play; he controls minds.”
A Needed Boost for Maresca
The win eased pressure on Enzo Maresca, who had been under fire after defeats to Bayern, Manchester United, and Brighton. With Chelsea now up to 10th in the new 36-team Champions League table, the Italian praised Palmer’s poise:
“His composure is elite. He dictates, he destroys – Benfica couldn’t breathe.”
There were blemishes: João Pedro’s red card, the third in four matches, drew groans from the 40,000 in attendance. Still, Palmer’s brilliance papered over the cracks.
Mourinho’s Misery
Back at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2020, Mourinho received a warm welcome but left with his Benfica side bottom of the group (0-3). His forwards, led by Dodi Lukébakio, misfired badly, while Ríos’ own goal sealed their fate. The Special One’s record against Chelsea slipped to 4-7-4, prompting him to mutter about “unlucky bounces” post-match.
Social Media Frenzy
Chelsea fans revelled, flooding platforms with memes of Benfica’s “petrified” midfielders. The hashtag #PalmerPetrifies surged past 250k interactions, with one viral post reading: “Cole Palmer’s got Lampard’s swagger – but scarier.”
Palmer, modest as ever, downplayed the hype: “Just doing my job.” But his stats – 7 goals and 9 assists in 11 starts this season – tell a different story.
What’s Next
With Liverpool visiting Stamford Bridge this weekend and João Pedro suspended, Palmer’s form is crucial to Maresca’s rebuilding project. For Mourinho, meanwhile, the return to his old fortress ended in frustration – undone not by nostalgia, but by a 23-year-old playmaker who turned fear into a weapon.
