José Mourinho referred to himself as the biggest one when he considered his historic Chelsea career prior to his most recent comeback to Stamford Bridge. For Tuesday night’s Champions League match, the self-described “special one” is back with Benfica, and he set the tone with another well-known quote.
After being fired by Fenerbahce at the end of August, Mourinho joined Benfica just 11 days ago, and he expects no animosity from Chelsea’s fans as he looks to ignite his career there.
The lowest point came when he was fired as visiting Manchester United’s manager during an FA Cup loss in March 2017, but it hasn’t always been that way when he returns to Stamford Bridge. At the time, Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea in two stints, asserted that “Judas is No 1” until another manager of the team earned four.
“Chelsea is a winning machine that had a moment without trophies in the past two or three years,” Mourinho stated Monday night when returning to the stadium where he held his first “special one” press conference.
José Mourinho says he is still Chelsea’s greatest manager
Mourinho is a legend, according to current Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who also claimed that having him return to the team for Tuesday’s match would be a “privilege.”
According to Maresca, “he is a legend for this club in my opinion.” In addition to being a legend for Inter Milan, he is also a legend for other clubs throughout the world, having won the Champions League with them.
“It demonstrates his excellence and his track record.” Even so, Mourinho sought to reassure Benfica supporters of one thing after his emotional return to London.
Mourinho stated, “I was expecting to return to Portugal to play for the national team, not Benfica, after 25 years.” I’ve returned to Benfica. I don’t try to think about what can or cannot happen; thus, I don’t have any career projects. Giving your all where you are is what matters most.
“From the beginning, it will be my Chelsea. After the match, it will be my Chelsea. That’s my Benfica during the game, and that’s all that counts,” he declared.
