Jose Mourinho has officially been ‘unveiled’ as the new manager of Europa League champions, Chelsea.
It is the second coming of The Special One at Stamford Bridge, and he says that he is returned in good spirits despite the unsatisfying way his stint at Real Madrid ended, and that he is “in probably the best moment of [his] career.”
It was at Chelsea where Mourinho gave himself his often ironically utilised moniker, and asked by a journalist if he is still The Special One, the Portuguese manager said: “I am the happy one. Time flies. It looks like it was a couple of days ago [his last unveiling] but it was nine years ago.
“I am the same person, I have the same heart and I have the same kind of emotions related to my passion for football and my job but of course I am a different person. If I have to describe myself, I say I am a very happy person. It's the first time I arrive in a club where I am already loved.”
Mou’s first stint at Chelsea ended sourly, but he insists that his relationship with the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich was never strained, and that together they will make the Blues the hardest team in England to beat again.
"I read that I was fired because we had a complete break-down of our relationship, that's not true,” he said.
Mou and Romad are now "ready to work together again and in much better conditions than last time ... and bring what this club wants: stability," he added.
Mourinho is still revered by the Chelsea faithful for leading them to two Premier League titles, and confirming their status among the English elite.
Since he left they have won the league, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League, and so in a sense he has some tough acts to follow, despite his own history of success.
But Mourinho believes that he can be even better as Chelsea manager this time around.
“I want to believe it's possible,” he said.
“I always trust my work. I know the kind of mentality and ambition that people have. My career was built on success in every club ... and leave different kinds of legacy. My message to my players is 'work hard, work with quality, the club is much more important than ourselves, we are nobody without he club."
Chelsea fan or not, Mou’s return to the English Premier League is box office stuff, and lovers of the English top flight must be excited to see him scowling on the touchline when the new season begins.
