The Special One Returns: Is Jose Mourinho Still Chelsea’s Top Dog?

Let’s be honest, the world of football just feels a little more… alive when José Mourinho is in the mix. The man is pure, uncut box-office entertainment, and his press conferences are the stuff of legend. So, when it was announced he’d be returning to Stamford Bridge, this time as the gaffer for Benfica in a Champions League clash, you could almost hear the collective rubbing of hands from journalists and fans alike. This wasn’t just another match; this was a homecoming. Or was it?

Mourinho, now a seasoned 62-year-old, strolled back into the press room at Stamford Bridge—a room decorated with giant photos of his past glories with Chelsea—and it was like he’d never left. The swagger, the subtle digs, the unwavering self-belief; it was all there. This is the man who, upon his first arrival in 2004, declared himself “a special one” and then proceeded to back it up by turning Chelsea into a trophy-hoarding machine.

But a lot of water has passed under that particular bridge. Spells at Manchester United and Tottenham saw some Chelsea fans turn on him, famously dubbing him “Judas.” His response at the time? A simple, cutting retort holding up three fingers: “Judas is still No. 1.” It seems his opinion hasn’t wavered one bit.

So, What Did Mourinho Have to Say This Time?

When probed about his legacy and where he stands in the pantheon of Chelsea managers, Mourinho didn’t miss a beat. “I’m the biggest one until someone wins four,” he declared, referencing his three Premier League titles. It was a classic Mourinho power play, a verbal gauntlet thrown down for any manager who dares to follow. He acknowledged the club’s history, stating, “Chelsea won something before my time. Then they stopped winning, and then my team kept winning.” You’ve got to love the sheer audacity.

He even managed a cheeky, backhanded compliment to current Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who has faced some heat recently. While saying Chelsea is “back on track,” he couldn’t resist a little jab at the trophies Maresca has won. “The Conference League is an easy competition for a big club to win. I did it with Roma,” he quipped. “Champions League is much more difficult to win than the Club World Cup, but Chelsea has the potential of course.” Ouch. It’s that classic Mourinho blend of praise wrapped in a subtle, sarcastic put-down.

A Complicated Love Story with Chelsea

Despite the bravado, there’s a genuine, albeit complicated, affection between Mourinho and Chelsea. He still has a family home near the stadium and admitted, “I will always be a blue. I’m part of their history, they’re part of my history.” It was a moment of vulnerability before the competitive mask slipped back on. “When I say I am not a blue, I hope everybody understands that I am speaking about the job that I have to do… I am red and want to win.”

He even commended the club for keeping his pictures on the wall, noting that “in many clubs it looks like there is a fear of what happened in the past… they want to delete people that made history.” It was a rare moment of sentimentality, showing that beneath the “us against the world” persona, the history he created at Chelsea still means something to him.

Will Mourinho Ever Recapture His Chelsea Magic?

This return marks another chapter in the storied career of José Mourinho. His managerial star might not shine as brightly as it did during his world-conquering days at Porto, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, but the man still knows how to command a headline. His track record as an away manager at Stamford Bridge isn’t exactly stellar—winning only once with Inter in 2010—but you’d be a fool to write him off.

As he left the press conference, embracing old media friends and even posing for a selfie, he departed with a smirk and a simple line that sums him up perfectly: “You know how I am. I love it.” And honestly, so do we. Whether you love him or loathe him, football is simply more interesting with José Mourinho in it. His return to Stamford Bridge is more than just a game; it’s a reminder of an era, a clash of legacies, and proof that even after all these years, the Special One still knows how to put on a show.