Mourinho still the ‘Special One’ on Chelsea return

Jose Mourinho strolled into at Stamford Bridge ahead of tonight's Champions League showdown with Chelsea and declared that he had arrived "home" and that he would always be the "Special One".

Clearly relishing his return to London the Portuguese coach, now manager of Inter Milan, put on a vintage performance in the pre-match press conference, showering Chelsea with compliments before finally damning them with faint praise.

After half-an-hour in which he could not muster a bad word about his former employers Mourinho cracked. "I keep winning important things," he said. "They keep winning... something. They won an FA Cup." A reference to his two Serie A titles with Inter Milan and the fact that Chelsea have just the one trophy since he left in 2007.

Mourinho has a fractious relationship with the Italian media, who give him far shorter shrift that he is used to, and he seemed grateful to have the opportunity wax lyrical in front of his old sparring partners in the British press. He even greeted some of the journalists personally after taking his seat at the press conference.

The charismatic Portuguese said it was a pleasure to be back at his old stamping ground, and had even sought out one employee who used to keep him supplied with custard cream biscuits. But he added that he would not let sentiment cloud his vision.

"I opened the door, went up to the second floor where there are people I know; to the third floor where there are people I know. The players didn't come to see me but they are working, or at the team hotel. Before the game I know everybody and I love them, and after the game the same, but, for 90 minutes on Tuesday night, I'll know nobody," he said.

After getting reacquainted with the Chelsea staff and the British press he said he was looking forward to seeing the fans again, and fully expected a hero's reception from them. He promised not to celebrate should Inter knock Chelsea out of the competition.

"I have nothing to prove to Chelsea, to Chelsea's players, to Chelsea's fans, to Chelsea's board," he said. "The relations are great. Will I be booed? I don't believe I will be. I will be clapped.

"I will be the Special One, win or lose," he added.

Nor could Mourinho help throwing out a tantalising hint about his future plans, revealing that he intends to coach in the Premier League once again. He has been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester City this season, but a better bet could be a move to Spain and Real Madrid at the end of the season.

"I have three things to do in my career," he announced. "The first thing is to be back in English football, another thing is to win the Spanish championship because no-one has won the Spanish, English and Italian titles. And another one, when I am old, is to coach my national team."

Inter lead the tie with Chelsea 2-1, but will be without striker Mario Balotelli who has not made the squad after reports of a training ground bust-up with the manager. ·