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Jose Mourinho incredibly pleaded with his supporters to stop berating ex-Benfica star Enzo Fernandez during their clash with Chelsea.
The Argentinian midfielder ruined his relationship with Benfica when he forced a move to Chelsea in 2023 worth some £120million.
Tuesday saw Fernandez face his former side for the first time since his departure and the Benfica supporters wasted no time in making clear their feelings on the 24-year-old.
As Fernandez limbered up to take a corner in front of the away support at Stamford Bridge, Benfica fans brutally hurled objects such as drinks bottles at him amid pleas from Jose Mourinho to stop.
The Portuguese boss, making his return to west London, left his technical area to walk down towards the away end before signalling to his fans to cease their targeting of Fernandez.
After briefly delaying his corner, the Chelsea skipper on the night eventually escaped the abuse as he jogged away.
Benfica fans hurled objects at Enzo Fernandez during their clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Fernandez incredibly left the Eagles after just three months with the club, in a move which left a particularly bitter taste in the mouths of Portuguese fans.
Shortly after Fernandez's departure to London, Benfica president Rui Costa gave a scathing account of his conduct at the club.
'Enzo Fernandez did not want to stay at Benfica. He didn't give us any chance,' the former Portugal international said.
'I did my best, I'm sad, but I'm not going to cry for a player who didn't want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to change his mind.
'During deadline day we found an agreement to sell Enzo to Chelsea in the summer but he didn't want to stay.
'From the moment Enzo realised [Chelsea would pay] the value of the clause it was unrelenting. We tried to insist, but the player did not show any openness to continuing at Benfica.
'I proposed to Chelsea that he stay until the summer for a lower value, but the player did not want to continue at Benfica – and this is when everything changed.'
On a night billed as the return of the Special One to a club where he was so successful, Mourinho's side made a bright start to Tuesday's Champions League tie squandering a few early chances.
However an own goal from Richard Rios put the hosts ahead on 17 minutes, a lead they held on to into the break.
Mourinho made a return to Benfica, where he began his coaching journey, a couple of weeks ago after being dismissed by Fenerbahce.
