Chelsea fans hail Jose Mourinho as 'class act' for Enzo Fernandez gesture

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Evening Standard

·30 September 2025

Chelsea fans hail Jose Mourinho as 'class act' for Enzo Fernandez gesture

The returning manager intervened with fans to protect Enzo Fernandez

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Jose Mourinho has been hailed as a "class act" after intervening to stop Benfica fans from throwing objects at Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.

Fernandez was the subject of abuse from sections of the away support at Stamford Bridge during Tuesday’s Champions League clash, having left in January 2023 for a then-British record £107million fee after just six months at the club.

While waiting to take a corner near the away fans, Fernandez was pelted with objects, which forced him to step away and wait for referee Daniel Siebert to intervene.

As Fernandez stood away, Mourinho was quick to march down from his technical area and to the corner and urge the Benfica fans to stop.

Alongside footage of the incident, a Chelsea fan posted on X: "Mourinho is genuinely a class act.

Another added: "Class!!! Special one.”

Mourinho was also described as a "peace-maker" for his intervention.

Mourinho was returning to Chelsea with his latest club, some 18 years after the first of two trophy-laden spells he enjoyed in west London.

"Of course I will always be a blue," he told reporters. "I'm part of their history and they are part of mine. I helped them become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me become a bigger Jose.

"When I say I'm not a blue, I hope everyone understands I'm speaking about the job that I have to do tomorrow."