'Already be in sh*t' - Jose Mourinho told 'Portuguese fans prefer Pep Guardiola & Jurgen Klopp' as Special One faces battle to win over Benfica supporters

There was a time when Mourinho was virtually untouchable, as he enjoyed considerable success with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid - winning countless domestic honours and a couple of Champions League crowns. Silverware has also come his way with Manchester United and Roma. He was, however, dumped by Turkish side Fenerbahce after failing to guide them into elite European competition.

Mourinho now finds himself back where it all began, with a return to Benfica being made after previously spending 11 games in charge of the Portuguese giants back in 2000. Disputes with those at boardroom level led to his resignation on that occasion, but he is back to finish the job.

Not that he considers there to be anything to finish, with Mourinho telling the Daily Mail of retracing steps to his homeland: "Unfinished business? I didn’t even start the business. I was here for three months. It wasn’t even the beginning of the business but it’s true that now I feel more and more focused on the others. Who are the others? The supporters, the board, the players. I think more about them than about myself and it’s a good feeling."

Many in Lisbon expected Mourinho to head home at some stage. For a while it appeared as those the Portuguese national team would be the ones to have the ‘Special One’ heading down that path. International football can wait for now, with there more stories to be told in the domestic game. Former team-mate and childhood friend Jorge Batista told the Mail: "We knew he would return one day. I am convinced Jose will make us (Benfica) winners again."

Mourinho has claimed that Turkish football "wasn’t my cultural level, it wasn’t my football level", with life in Portugal considered to be a better fit for him. That is an opinion shared by those covering the Primeira Liga.

Rui Pedro Rocha of Sport TV said: "In Portugal, most people thought Jose would only return for the national team. But the Benfica job is not a surprise because it is probably his level now. In the last few years, he hasn’t had the trophies that he did before. But Jose loves Portugal and he’s a workaholic so it’s a perfect solution. And for Benfica and [Rui] Costa too because they need something new before the elections. If there were no elections, I don’t think he would try a big name like Mourinho. There’s excitement but also an awareness that he might not be for long-term."

That may be because he fails to get a demanding fan base on side, with his links to Porto - alongside the emergence of other hugely successful coaches such as Klopp and Guardiola - ensuring that there is plenty of work to be done at Estadio da Luz.

A source in Portugal told the Mail: "Mourinho is a popular coach but not every Benfica supporter loves him yet because Portuguese football fans are educated. If you ask the 10 million people in Portugal, they will prefer managers like Pep Guardiola and Klopp but the respect is there for Mourinho because of his achievements and for his character. For Benfica supporters, Mourinho represents a new illusion, a new dream. People didn’t like Bruno Lage - he wasn’t charismatic. Mourinho has that but if Benfica lose both games this week, then he will already be in bad sh*t. In Benfica, people change easily. It’s not an easy place to be."

Mourinho has picked up seven points from a three-match unbeaten start to his tenure at Benfica. His next test will be the biggest yet, though, with the Premier League title winner due back at Chelsea and Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for an intriguing Champions League tie.