Former Chelsea supervisor Jose Mourinho mentioned he “will all the time be a Blue” – however nonetheless hopes to beat them when his Benfica aspect play at Stamford Bridge within the Champions League on Tuesday.
Chelsea received seven main trophies in Mourinho’s two spells in cost – the Premier League on three events, the FA Cup and three League Cups.
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Mourinho, 62, has additionally managed within the Premier League at Manchester United and Tottenham and started this season in control of Turkish aspect Fenerbahce, who earlier than he this month.
He has received two and drawn considered one of his first three video games again at Benfica, the membership the place he started his managerial profession in 2000.
“I’ll all the time be a Blue,” mentioned Mourinho when requested about his relationship with Chelsea. “I’m a part of their historical past. They’re a part of my historical past. I helped them to turn into an even bigger Chelsea, and so they helped me to turn into an even bigger Jose.
“It is going to be my Chelsea earlier than the beginning of the sport and after the sport however throughout the recreation it is my Benfica and that is all that issues.
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“Once I say I’m not a Blue, I’m solely talking in regards to the job I’ve to do tomorrow.”
There are photos of Jose Mourinho holding trophies on the wall at Chelsea’s Drake Suite, with present boss Enzo Maresca pictured speaking with considered one of them within the background [Getty Images]
Mourinho received the Champions League in 2004 with Porto and Inter Milan in 2010.
He was Fenerbahce boss once they misplaced 1-0 on combination to Benfica in August within the play-off spherical to get into the Champions League, being dismissed two days later.
However Benfica misplaced 3-2 at residence to Azerbaijani aspect Qarabag of their first match within the league part with Mourinho then changing the sacked Bruno Lage.
Mourinho, whose profession has additionally included spells at Actual Madrid and Roma, mentioned he didn’t count on to take one other place in membership soccer.
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“After 25 years [of coaching] I used to be anticipating to return to Portugal by means of the nationwide workforce, not Benfica, and I am again to Benfica so I haven’t got a profession mission,” mentioned Mourinho. “I do not attempt to assume what can occur or what can not occur.
“The vital factor is giving every part. Now I am in Benfica and really completely satisfied. It is a large accountability, even for a man like me of years in soccer. Benfica is a big accountability for various causes.”
Chelsea received the Membership World Cup in the summertime and the Convention League in Could, with Mourinho calling them a “successful machine”.
He added: “They received one thing earlier than my time, then we began successful and saved successful.”
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Evaluation – Mourinho’s media convention masterclass
Nizaar Kinsella – Soccer reporter
Mourinho, the self-proclaimed ‘Particular One’, entered the Drake Suite quietly, greeting the various worldwide media – 3 times bigger than the group that welcomed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca – with a easy “Ciao”.
The room – a hospitality house honouring Chelsea’s title-winning managers – options three pictures of Mourinho hoisting every of his three Premier League trophies, alongside photographs of Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte. Relaxed and charismatic, he joked with participant Dodi Lukebakio, who briefly answered questions earlier than the primary occasion.
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A number of Chelsea workers made a particular effort to see returning former supervisor Jose Mourinho again at Stamford Bridge.
They witnessed a media convention masterclass. Requested in Portuguese in regards to the photographs on the wall, he mentioned: “I am not a Blue any extra. I am a Purple now and need to win.”
Nevertheless, when requested the same query in English, he replied: “I’ll all the time be a Blue. I’m a part of their historical past. They’re a part of my historical past. I helped them to turn into an even bigger Chelsea. And so they helped me to turn into an even bigger Jose. Once I say I’m not a Blue, I’m solely talking in regards to the job I’ve to do tomorrow.”
These feedback additionally appeared to point out that Mourinho is able to settle for legend standing and adulation from the house supporters on Tuesday, regardless of spells at Tottenham and Manchester United.
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He made an effort to talk to every particular person he knew from his final spell in English soccer, earlier than having an hour-long coaching session in entrance of the cameras on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.