Overview
- Enzo Maresca said there is no reason to panic, admitting he could have handled recent sendings-off better and confirming late fitness checks for Moisés Caicedo, Andrey Santos and João Pedro.
- Cole Palmer will miss his next three games with a groin issue, a development Jose Mourinho welcomed as he called the playmaker a phenomenal player.
- Mourinho, appointed Benfica manager on September 18, is unbeaten in his first three matches and returns to the club where he won three Premier League titles.
- Chelsea have lost three of their past four matches and opened their Champions League campaign with defeat to Bayern Munich, increasing the need to respond at home to Benfica.
- Mourinho praised Maresca’s work and recent trophies, saying Chelsea briefly lost direction after ownership changes but are back on track under the current coach.