'Chelsea is exploiting Jose Mourinho'

Chelsea fans expressed outrage when the club revealed ticket prices for the Champions League fixture with Benfica — the match that marks Jose Mourinho’s comeback to Stamford Bridge — set at the peak level, prompting accusations that the club is capitalizing on this hype.

Ahead of the match against Benfica, Chelsea declared prices at the AA category, the highest tier in their ticketing system. Adult tickets cost up to £83, while discounts for children and seniors were significantly reduced. This decision angered many supporters, especially since the announcement was made only one week before the game.

David Johnstone — editor of CFC UK Fanzine — shared that he “was genuinely very upset, not just about Chelsea but football in general.”He gave a specific example of having to pay £50 for his 12-year-old son’s ticket due to the lack of discounts, worrying that the younger generation might soon lose access to live matches.

Tim Rolls — former chairman of Chelsea Supporters’ Trust — was also “extremely frustrated” with the club’s approach. He believes that raising prices and removing concessions without prior notice shows disregard for loyal fans, especially older season ticket holders. According to him, Chelsea deliberately leveraged Mourinho’s return to hike prices, targeting fans willing to pay more for a unique experience.

Strong reactions also came from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) itself. In a statement, CST affirmed “the message is very clear — stop exploiting our loyalty.”They expressed concern about the club’s Champions League ticket sales, including price hikes, lack of transparency, and ignoring fans’ voices.

The situation escalated as Chelsea had previously offered a discounted package for all four home Champions League games, including matches against Benfica, Ajax, Barcelona, and Pafos. This raised worries among season ticket holders that they might lose their regular seats unless they paid extra for the new package.

Chelsea has refused to make an official comment, but according to Telegraph Sport, the ticket prices for the Benfica match remain comparable to those of many other clubs. The club reportedly consulted the Fan Advisory Board on ticketing policies earlier this year. However, these explanations have not been enough to quell the rising criticism from loyal supporters at Stamford Bridge.

With the special effect of Jose Mourinho’s return with Benfica, Chelsea clearly stands on a delicate line: one side is financial gain, the other is the trust and affection of the fans. In this battle, the voices of the audience seem more forceful than ever.

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