Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since being sacked by Chelsea claiming he will no longer be “the Special One” if he fails to deliver silverware at Manchester United.
Mourinho won three Premier League titles with Chelsea before his second spell in charge ended ignominiously last December, when he was dismissed with the club a point above the relegation zone only seven months after winning the championship.
The Portuguese is determined to ensure his time at United does not end in similar disappointment but he is under pressure to deliver a result against his former club.
United have taken just five points from their past five league matches, and will fall five points behind Chelsea if Mourinho’s eagerly awaited return to Stamford Bridge ends in defeat.
“Connections start before titles are won but it is success that brings empathy between the supporters and managers and makes that connection become really strong,” Mourinho said.
“I have a three-year contract here [at United] and if I am here for three years the people will know that I have given everything to the club and that I am a professional and dedicated coach who gives himself 24 hours a day to United.
“But if, at the end of the three years, I don’t win a single piece of silverware for them, they will say ‘great guy, good coach, we like him, but we feel nothing special about him’.
“Chelsea have won four Premier League titles in their history. Three of them were with me and the other one was won by the team I left behind.
“I took them to Wembley, I took them to Cardiff, I took them to cup finals. So there is a connection based on empathy – but built on success.” – The Telegraph.
