Jose Mourinho comes back to Stamford Bridge for the first time on Tuesday since he left in September 2007. It goes without saying he’ll come back in a blaze of publicity because let’s face it, that’s Jose Mourinho, but that’s the only similarity between this visit and any other time he’s been inside the ground.
Because this time around he isn’t The Special One, he’s the opposition.
Obviously, he still has plenty of supporters at Chelsea – he made sure of that, not just with the trophies he won but with his many statements of martyrdom since – but Carlo Ancelotti certainly hasn’t got the inferiority complex Mourinho would like him to have right now, stating “It won’t be difficult for the fans. Before the game Mourinho will have a very good reception but after that Chelsea fans are Chelsea fans. I don’t have a problem with Mourinho. I have never had a problem with him. There is no advantage because it’s a game between Chelsea and Inter, not me against Mourinho.”
Personally, I’m dreading hearing his name sung inside Stamford Bridge even if realistically I know it’s inevitable. I got over him a long time ago and whilst there’s plenty of Chelsea supporters I know who’d be gutted at the thought of him returning to the Premier League with another club, the only thing I’d ever be gutted about is losing to him again. I couldn’t honestly care less where Mourinho manages as long as when we do face him our supporters remember he is the opposition.
For this one though, it’s worth remembering the irony that Mourinho seemed to stand between us and the Champions League when he was at Chelsea – let’s not give him the satisfaction of doing it again now!
KTBFFH
Blue is the colour
