And maybe, for the Chelsea manager, there might also be a pang of regret over his apparent attempts to belittle Liverpool's status prior to the semi-final tie.
"He has made us laugh," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said of Mourinho, who almost wooed him to Stamford Bridge not so long ago. "But for him to say that we are a little club was a bit disrespectful. Two European Cup finals in three years is not bad for a little club, is it?" It is, indeed, some achievement and was earned on an evening of raw emotion and drama as Liverpool cancelled out Chelsea's first-leg advantage with a goal by Daniel Agger which was sweet revenge for the defender after the mauling he received last week by Didier Drogba.
Liverpool then struck the crossbar and had an apparently legitimate goal ruled out for offside. Both those efforts came from Dirk Kuyt and it was the Dutch striker who hit the decisive penalty after Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina - hailed the "best in the world" by Gerrard and Benitez - had saved two of Chelsea's spot-kicks.
If Mourinho, who later attempted to clarify his comments about Liverpool's status, lacked grace then, according to Gerrard, it was there from his players. Both John Terry and Frank Lampard congratulated Liverpool on their achievements which will now see them meet either Milan or Manchester United in the final in Athens later this month as they attempt to recapture the trophy they won in Istanbul in 2005.
In that campaign, also, they beat Chelsea in the semi-finals when Mourinho complained about Luis Garcia's "ghost goal", but the only phantom last night was the spectre of Roman Abramovich. Significantly, the Chelsea owner was absent, although sitting in the directors' box was Andrei Shevchenko, who had travelled to Merseyside after being excluded from the team and then apparently declaring himself unfit.
Despite a statement two weeks ago by the Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, that Mourinho will not be sacked, there will now be severe doubts over his future at the club having, it seems, lost out in the Premiership title race and been knocked out of the European Cup in the space of just four days. "Again? No, no," Mourinho replied when asked about his future. "What speculation? More? No, no, no." He was equally adamant in claiming that Chelsea were the better team not just in the first leg but over the whole tie.
"Chelsea tried to win the game in 90 minutes. Chelsea tried to win the game in extra time. Chelsea showed more appetite to try and win the game." Mourinho dismissed the effect of the Anfield crowd. "You speak about the atmosphere," he added. "I saw only an enthusiastic atmosphere. One team in blue, playing to win.
"Penalties. Some people say it is luck. Some people say the goalkeeper has some appetite for penalties. Some people say players are good penalty takers. I just say they scored four penalties and that is the story."
The defeat means Chelsea have now lost three European Cup semi-finals in four years, having also fallen short under Claudio Ranieri. "We deserved to be in the final," Mourinho said. "But football is not about that. It is about who is in the final and that winner is Liverpool, Manchester United or Milan. In five, 10, 20 years, no one remembers Chelsea was the better team in the first game or that Chelsea was the better team tonight."
Benitez dismissed Mourinho's complaints. "He said this?" he asked when told that his adversary believed Chelsea were the better team. "We are in the final and need to enjoy it rather than talk a lot. Our supporters were fantastic, the atmosphere was amazing, the game was massive and everything was perfect." For Liverpool it certainly was.
Man-for-man marking
Liverpool
Jose Reina 8
Smart save from Drogba, brave punch from Lampard's free-kick. Strong all round.
Steve Finnan 7
An assured presence. Fine tackle on Kalou as he threatened to break.
Daniel Agger 7
Took a more physical approach to Drogba. Also contributed with smart goal.
Jamie Carragher 7
Marshalled his fellow defenders like the class act he is. Stood up to the challenge.
John Arne Riise 7
Stood up well to deny Mikel. Not such a forward threat until cross for Kuyt header.
Jermaine Pennant 8
Drew free-kicks from Cole and delivered wonderful cross for Crouch header.
Steven Gerrard 8
Delivered clever free-kick for Agger goal. Worked heroically, tirelessly.
Javier Mascherano 8
An early loose pass was forgotten in a flurry of tackles. Gave team the base to attack.
Boudewijn Zenden 5
Couple of aggressive early challenges but faded badly. Distribution was poor.
Dirk Kuyt 6
Worked hard but made little impact until his header rebounded off crossbar.
Peter Crouch 7
Did well to reach Pennant cross which seemed to fire him into life. He troubled Essien.
Substitute Xabi Alonso (for Pennant, 78) 7 Craig Bellamy (for Crouch, 105) 5 Robbie Fowler (for Mascherano, 118)
Chelsea
Petr Cech 7
Alert save from Crouch header after early nerves. Unsighted for Agger goal.
Paulo Ferreira 5
Does not do enough as a defender to convince, or as an attacker to impress.
Michael Essien 7
Nervy back pass but also made some excellent blocks.
John Terry 7
Stood up to the physical challenge well but not quite the dominating figure he can be.
Ashley Cole 6
Struggled to cope with the pace of Pennant. Early booking seemed to worry him.
Claude Makelele 5
Game passed him by. Tried to persuade the referee to book Liverpool players.
Joe Cole 6
Ball just would not roll for him. Looked a player coming back from a long-term injury.
Jon Obi Mikel 6
Some assured touches but needed to be more assertive. That will come.
Frank Lampard 6
In direct confrontation with Gerrard and suffered. A threat with his dead-ball delivery.
Salomon Kalou 6
Faded at times when he needed to be stronger, although his pace was a constant threat.
Didier Drogba 7
A lone presence and still a threat. Drew save from Reina with fierce shot.
Substitutes Arjen Robben (for J Cole, 98) 6, Shaun Wright-Phillips (for Kalou, 107) 7, Geremi (for Makelele, 118).