When Jose Mourinho first arrived at Stamford Bridge greater than 20 years in the past, he anointed himself Chelsea’s ‘Particular One’.
The 62-year-old has a wealthy and storied managerial profession, with loads of highs, a lot jaw-dropping controversy and moments when he has let himself down.
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Nowhere although, will he really feel the love reserved for him at Chelsea.
They chanted his identify loudly on three events throughout his new membership Benfica’s . At one stage within the second half he was being serenaded by the Matthew Harding Stand at one finish and the Shed on the different.
He waved nearly sheepishly. His predominant focus was on the pitch – his desperation to succeed larger than it was all these years in the past he mentioned, as a result of he has a popularity to reside as much as.
“After I first got here right here no-one was ready for me,” he mentioned. “There have been lots of query marks.
“Now everyone thinks I’ve magic to make issues occur.”
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He was talking in Chelsea’s media convention room, which was packed. Many who have been current know Jose. None come near the affect of Brian Pullman.
Pullman labored at Chelsea for an unimaginable 56 years and retired in 2024. He was a well-recognized face within the media convention room and clearly, Jose remembered how Pullman used to take care of him.
Grinning to see his outdated colleague had made the trouble to return to fulfill him, Mourinho requested “the place are my favorite biscuits?” Pullman moved a close-by tea towel to disclose half a dozen custard lotions. The Portuguese took a pair, then grabbed the remainder as he stood as much as go away. The embrace between the pair was a pleasure to witness.
That is the Chelsea Mourinho – the one followers love.
Mourinho hugs former long-serving Chelsea worker Brian Pullman at Stamford Bridge [BBC Sport]
It’s the Mourinho who spent an age speaking to a different long-term Chelsea worker Thresa Conneely on Monday, the one who chatted to his former participant Joe Cole after arriving 90 minutes earlier than kick-off, relaxed along with his arm draped on the one-time England star’s shoulder as he engaged in straightforward dialog. The one who stopped and signed a younger Chelsea fan’s shirt earlier than he headed to the dressing room for his pre-match group discuss.
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“In fact I thank them,” mentioned Mourinho, when requested of the supporter response.
“I did it on the pitch. I reside round right here. I discuss with them each day on the road.
“I hope to come back again right here [Stamford Bridge] in 20 years with my grandkids.
“They [Chelsea] belong to my historical past and I belong to theirs.”
But Mourinho desires to win. You possibly can inform that as he challenged selections and demanded extra from his gamers, patrolling the touchline as he has at all times carried out.
It appeared odd to listen to him speak about how effectively his group had performed in defeat, even when the chances have been stacked towards them by the massive hole in revenue between England’s Champions League contenders and people from Portugal.
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He sat in the identical dugout as when he was supervisor, although it does make you surprise why the membership waited for Mauricio Pochettino to alter them given what’s now the house dugout straddles the midway line.
It did imply he was nearer the Benfica followers although, as he produced one other traditional Mourinho second within the second half.
Chelsea may need paid the Lisbon membership a British file £107m to signal Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez two years in the past, however the cash clearly has no bearing on how his outdated membership’s supporters take into consideration him.
As he went to take a nook, Fernandez was bombarded by missiles from the higher and decrease sections of the stands round him.
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Mourinho noticed what was occurring, bounced out of his seat and took off down the touchline – a reminder of when he was Porto supervisor at Outdated Trafford and celebrated knocking Manchester United out of the Champions League in 2004.
The knee slide is past him now. As a substitute, he stored himself to indignant waves, telling these supporters to cease.
They won’t all have acted as he wished however the bombardment at the very least diminished lengthy sufficient for Fernandez to take the nook.
Jose the peacemaker. Jose the good friend.
Benfica did not win – and Chelsea weren’t that good – however Mourinho’s return was memorable all the identical.
There’ll at all times be mutual respect round right here.