Jose Mourinho admitted that he found it ‘hard’ to see Chelsea struggle under the Todd Boehly regime after Roman Abramovich sold the club to BlueCo in 2022.
Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge when his Benfica side take on Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday and the former Chelsea boss insisted that he is not fussed about the reception he gets from the fans, saying he is ‘happy to be back.’
‘Chelsea. Abramovich’s Chelsea, my Chelsea, the Chelsea we built and lasted for many years was a winning club. It was winning everything with me and then with (Carlo) Ancelotti, with (Antonio) Conte and with (Thomas) Tuchel. Chelsea was a winning machine. Every season, Chelsea was winning,‘ said Mourinho.
‘Then there was a big change with crazy investment and a period of a few years where it looked like they lost direction – with too many players, too many millions, accumulation of players and a team without a clear philosophy. For a couple of years, it was hard. For one that loves the club, it was hard,’ the 62-year-old added.
But Mourinho praised Enzo Maresca for taking Chelsea back to winning ways after they won the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season.
‘Maresca arrived and step by step, the puzzle was made. Even the Conference League is a fantastic competition for a team like that to win. It gives you that first cup and the philosophy and the culture of the club for winning. If you cannot win the Premier League you win something, so they won the Conference League. said Mourinho. ‘Then they go to the States and come back with the big badge on the chest so now they have a good, good team.’
Jose Mourinho has admitted he found it hard to watch Chelsea under their new ownership
BlueCo have spent over £1bn on the Stamford Bridge club but have found the going tough
Asked about the absence of Cole Palmer, who will be out on Tuesday due to a groin injury, Mourinho said: ‘I’m happy with that. He’s a phenomenal player. But I think they have a good team, in a way that if Cole Palmer doesn’t play it’s not a problem for them. If (Heorhiy) Sudakov doesn’t play or if (Vangelis) Pavlidis doesn’t play, I am in big trouble. But for Chelsea, no problem.’
It will be Mourinho’s first game in the dugout at Stamford Bridge since 2020 when he managed Tottenham. On his emotions ahead of a return to London, Mourinho added: ‘I am going to see my son, because he is there. In this moment I have my wife and my daughter in Portugal. My son is in London so the best thing there is to go and see him, and if possible to bring the points that we lost against Qarabag. But I know that Chelsea is a top team, with fantastic players, a good coach, big statues and are world champions. They also lost the first match so they of course need the points. If the fans are great to me, then great. If they are not, that’s fine and no problem but I am happy to be back.’
