Mourinho relaxed about Chelsea return

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed he is undeterred by the prospect of returning to former club Chelsea in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon.

The 53-year-old is the most successful boss in Blues history following his two spells in charge at Stamford Bridge after winning three championship crowns, three League Cups and the FA Cup.

Mourinho’s second stint with Chelsea ended with his departure midway through the 2015/16 season following a disappointing start to the title defence, which led to him later being recruited by United in June and he will return for the first time as Reds boss this coming weekend.

Speaking at a press conference that was held after the Europa League win over Fenerbahce on Thursday night, Mourinho was asked to assess Chelsea’s form under new manager Antonio Conte and provide an assessment of what it will be like for him to return to his old employers.

“I don’t have to analyse their start to the season but, when you look at the table and you see where they are, in the middle positions, it cannot be bad,” the boss said. “I knew that working in England, staying in the Premier League, I would, sooner or later, have to play against Chelsea and I would have to go to Stamford Bridge. The computer has decided that I have to go now, so we go.”

Following his first departure from Chelsea in 2007, Mourinho returned to west London with new club Inter Milan and told the media he is “always lucky at the Bridge”. When asked how important that might be this time around, the United boss explained why his comment is no longer valid. 

“When I played there with Inter, before that, I had never lost a match at Stamford Bridge because I had that [unbeaten] home record,” he said. “Now, I lost already a few matches at the Bridge. Last season, I lost two or three matches so I cannot use the same words. Now, I lost there.”