Why Marc Cucurella & Jose Mourinho Will Make Chelsea Return After Champions League Decision

Following Thursday’s Champions League draw in Monaco, both Marc Cucurella and José Mourinho are set to return to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.

With Chelsea failing to qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League or any European competition, Stamford Bridge is set to look a lot different during this season’s competition.

After poor results, predominantly during the second half of the 2025/26 Premier League season, and more than one change in the hot seat in west London, the race for Champions League football swiftly became a battle to remain in the top half.

Managerial departures, firstly Enzo Maresca, who has since joined Manchester City, and then Liam Rosenior, who arrived from Strasbourg, resulted in significant turbulence.

As Stamford Bridge will remain unoccupied for most midweeks this season, Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk have taken the opportunity to use Chelsea’s home for their European campaign. Shakhtar, who have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, have been using stadiums across Europe to fulfil both European and domestic league fixtures.

A statement from Chelsea read: 'FC Shakhtar have played in countries across Europe and we look forward to welcoming them to London for their Champions League campaign this year.'

Despite Chelsea not making the league phase of the competition, there will still be some Chelsea representation at Stamford Bridge. The standout fixture is the visit of 15-time European Cup winners Real Madrid, who will return to west London for the first time in three years.

Madrid are set to visit Stamford Bridge on matchday eight, which takes place on January 27. Regardless of the opposition, a visit from Real Madrid will always be a big occasion.

The returns of José Mourinho, Antonio Rüdiger and Marc Cucurella will be emotional ones, given how all three forged strong connections with both the club and its supporters during their time at Chelsea.

Mourinho’s achievements speak for themselves. He will always be remembered as the manager who guided Chelsea to success, ending a 50-year wait for a top-flight league title, and as the club’s most decorated manager.

Rüdiger, who won the 2018 FA Cup and 2021 Champions League with Chelsea, was regarded as a firm fan favourite during his time at the club.

However, Marc Cucurella’s journey towards becoming a respected figure was built over time. Joining for a fee of upwards of £50 million from Brighton in 2022, the Spanish full-back struggled to make his mark until 2024, when he finally found his feet under Mauricio Pochettino.

Later that summer, the 28-year-old was crowned a European champion with Spain, while also being named the tournament’s best left-back. Success followed in 2025 as Chelsea won the Conference League and Club World Cup.

In 2026, a move to Real Madrid materialised and, within the same summer, Cucurella became a world champion with his country.

A less popular figure making his return will be 34-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Despite winning the Premier League title in both 2014/15 and 2016/17, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup, Courtois remains an unpopular figure among Chelsea supporters following his departure after the 2018 World Cup.

Seeking a move to Madrid, the goalkeeper failed to report for training in a gesture that signalled his time at the club was over. He was subsequently replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Who else is visiting Stamford Bridge?

As well as Real Madrid, Shakhtar will welcome three other opponents in their bid to progress to the next round. Another Chelsea-related reunion that could catch the attention of supporters is the visit of Turkish side Fenerbahçe.

The Süper Lig runners-up, who will visit Stamford Bridge on November 25, arrive with a host of familiar names. Nathan Aké, who was also a Premier League winner with the Blues, will be joined by former European champion N’Golo Kanté. Ex-Chelsea record signing Romelu Lukaku also features for the Turkish side.

Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP will also pay a visit to Stamford Bridge on matchday four. It could be a big occasion for Chelsea academy star Jesse Derry, who joined Sporting on loan in the summer. His first taste of Champions League football could well come at his parent club’s home.

Shakhtar’s first league-phase fixture at Stamford Bridge will be against Greek champions AEK Athens. With no direct Chelsea involvement, supporters may still recognise a familiar name in Serbian international Luka Jović, who was linked with a move to west London back in 2019, most notably following his impressive Europa League campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt.

MD1 / September 10: PSV (a) - 5.45pm (UK)

MD2 / October 14: AEK Athens (h) - 8pm (UK)

MD4 / October 21: Inter Milan (a) - 8pm (UK)

MD4 / November 3: Sporting CP (h) - 5.45pm (UK)

MD5 / November 25: Fenerbahçe SK (h) - 8pm (UK)

MD6 / December 9: S. Bratislava (a) - 5.45pm (UK)

MD7 / January 20: RB Leipzig (a) - 8pm (UK)

MD8 / January 27: Real Madrid (h) - 8pm (UK)