José Mourinho has insisted that he’ll stay the best supervisor of the “successful machine” till any individual beats his file of three Premier League titles.
On the eve of his newest return to Stamford Bridge – the place he was supervisor for a mixed 5 years over two completely different spells – with Benfica within the Champions League, addressed his Chelsea file.
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The Portuguese received back-to-back League titles in his first spell and added a 3rd on his return, additionally successful the FA Cup and three League Cups alongside the way in which.
The Champions League was the one which received away for Mourinho, with Chelsea finally successful it below Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel.
Mourinho received three Premier League titles with Chelsea – Getty Pictures/Mike Hewitt
However Mourinho is assured that he returns because the No 1 supervisor within the membership’s historical past and that his three League titles trump something any supervisor has achieved earlier than or since his arrival in 2004.
Responding to chants from the group, Mourinho famously declared “Judas continues to be primary” after returning to Chelsea as Manchester United supervisor in 2017. Requested if he nonetheless believes that, the 62-year-old mentioned: “Chelsea is a successful machine.
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“Chelsea received one thing earlier than my time after which we began successful, and my workforce saved successful after which a metamorphosis of latest groups, new coaches, extra trophies, European trophies, the largest one – the Champions League. So Chelsea is a successful machine. I’m the largest one till somebody wins 4.”
Mourinho was talking within the Ted Drake suite at Stamford Bridge, which is devoted to Chelsea’s title-winning managers and has photos of him with every of his three Premier League trophies on the wall.
“In relation to those photos, there usually are not many golf equipment that do that,” mentioned Mourinho. “As a result of in lots of, many golf equipment, it appears like there’s a concern of what occurred prior to now and there’s a steady transformation of images. Generally it appears like they need to delete people who made historical past within the golf equipment. I believe this exhibits that Chelsea actually are an enormous membership as a result of large golf equipment are additionally about precept.”
Mourinho’s portrait as a League title winner with Chelsea was on the wall as he addressed the media – Getty Pictures/Crystal Pix
Mourinho admitted that he thought Chelsea had misplaced their identification at one stage below the present possession, however believes successful the Convention League and the Membership World Cup has put the membership again on observe. And he thinks Enzo Maresca’s squad are able to successful the Champions League.
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“There was a set interval the place myself, from the surface, was placing some query marks [on the current Chelsea project] as a result of it regarded like Chelsea had misplaced their identification as a membership,” mentioned Mourinho. “However what occurred within the final season received issues again on observe.
“The Convention League is straightforward for an enormous membership to win. I did it with Roma. It’s fairly a straightforward competitors to win with an enormous membership. After which the Membership World Cup, I all the time say the Champions League is far more necessary, however the [gold] badge means quite a bit. It’s the primary time a membership has received [the expanded] Membership World Cup. Congratulations to them. I believe that offers them a base of belief and a base of confidence. So Chelsea is again on observe.
“The Champions League is far more tough to win than the Membership World Cup, in fact it’s. However Chelsea has the potential to do it, I don’t see any cause to say ‘no, Chelsea can’t do it’.”
Benfica are the fourth membership Mourinho could have returned to Stamford Bridge with, having additionally completed in order supervisor of United, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.
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“Sure, I’m feeling at residence,” he mentioned. “I already performed right here with Tottenham, Manchester United and Inter Milan. However throughout 90 minutes, I by no means considered the place I used to be. So I’m not a Blue any extra [during the game]. I’m crimson now and I need to win.
“After all, I’ll all the time be a Blue. I’m a part of their historical past and they’re a part of my historical past. I helped them to develop into an even bigger Chelsea they usually helped me to develop into an even bigger José. After I say I’m not a Blue, I hope all people understands that I’m talking in regards to the job that I’ve to do tomorrow.”