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The "Knockout Specialist" tag has officially expired. As of Thursday, February 26, 2026, José Mourinho has reached a career-low milestone that was once unthinkable.
Following Benfica’s 2–1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu last night, Mourinho has now gone 10 consecutive Champions League knockout matches without a win.
His last victory in a UCL knockout game came over a decade ago: a 2–0 win for Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain on April 8, 2014.
The "Decade of Drought": The 10-Game Streak
Mourinho’s decline in Europe’s elite competition has spanned four different clubs and over 4,300 days since his last taste of knockout glory.
❌ Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica
❌ Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid
❌ RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham
❌ Tottenham 0-1 RB Leipzig
❌ Sevilla 0-0 Man Utd
❌ Man Utd 1-2 Sevilla
❌ Chelsea 1-2 PSG
❌ PSG 2-1 Chelsea
❌ Chelsea 1-3 Atletico Madrid
❌ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Chelsea
Stat Check: In this 10-game span, Mourinho’s teams have recorded 4 draws and 6 losses, scoring only 6 goals while conceding 15. This is the longest winless drought ever recorded by a two-time winner of the competition.
The Bernabéu Exile: Watching from the Bus
Mourinho's 10th winless game was particularly symbolic. Suspended after a red card in the first leg, the "Special One" was reportedly forced to watch Benfica's elimination from the team bus parked outside the Santiago Bernabéu—the stadium where he once reigned as king.
The Tactical Wall: Benfica took an early lead through Rafa Silva, but Mourinho's "park the bus" tactics (ironically executed while he was on a literal bus) couldn't hold back the wave of Real Madrid attacks.
The "Mouth" Controversy: Beyond the tactics, Mourinho's tenure at Benfica is already under fire following allegations of racially charged remarks made toward Vinícius Júnior in the first leg, adding a dark cloud to his declining European record.
The Verdict: While Mourinho has found success in the Conference League and Europa League recently, the Champions League has become his kryptonite. At 63, the road back to the top of the European mountain looks steeper than ever.