Jose Mourinho says he expects a warm welcome from Chelsea fans when he returns to Stamford Bridge with Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Portuguese coach, who won three Premier League titles, three League Cups and an FA Cup across two spells, admitted he is “not a blue anymore” in his current job but quickly softened his stance.
“Of course I will always be a Blue. I helped them become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me become a bigger Jose,” he said.
Chelsea marked his homecoming by hanging photos of his greatest triumphs inside the stadium, a gesture Mourinho praised as proof the club honours its history. “It shows Chelsea is really a big club,” he said.
The 62-year-old avoided piling pressure on Enzo Maresca despite Chelsea’s poor form, though he reminded reporters of his own legacy. “I am the biggest one until someone wins four titles,” he declared, while dismissing the Conference League as “an easy competition.”
Ten years since his last title, Mourinho remains box-office. He signed off with hugs, selfies and a smirk: “You know how I am. I love it.”
