You’re not special if you don’t win... but I do win!

JOSE MOURINHO has never been shy or afraid to voice an opinion. So here is the new Chelsea boss at his most colourful, compulsive and controversial.

ON BEING THE SPECIAL ONE
THE expression is mine, that’s obvious. When I arrived at Chelsea, I said I was special because I had won the Champions League with Porto.

To be a champion, it’s necessary to have a special talent.

Being special is working to the maximum of your ability and motivation, being good with yourself in all the challenges you’ve got. And, if possible, winning and being successful many times.

You’re not special if you don’t win — but I do win!

HIS LOVE FOR CHELSEA
IT was love at first sight. Chelsea is a club which is a big part of me. They’re in my heart.

I’ve always wanted Chelsea to win and be successful, except when my teams have played against them — then I wanted to kill them!

GOING BACK
WHEN I left Chelsea I started to miss English football.

I’m passionate about English football and knew I would return eventually.

Going back to England was obligatory but I knew it wouldn’t be good to go back so soon.

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
I ALWAYS wanted to work in England, Italy and in Spain — they’re the three most important leagues.

I knew I wouldn’t go back to England until I’d tried the other leagues.

BEING THE BEST
MAYBE I’m not the best coach in the world — but I don’t think there’s a better coach than me.
I don’t want to be called a legend but I have a great history which is difficult to compare. I consider myself a great coach.

NOTHING TO PROVE
I DON’T have to prove anything, not even to myself. It’s a question of personal satisfaction, pride and desire to do things well.

I’m not after prestige, I want to do things well and make others happy.

No matter how badly things go, I don’t feel I’m being put to the test. My status and my past give me calmness.

WORK ETHIC
I GET up early and leave late, thinking about football every minute. No matter which club I’ve been at, my working days have always been the same.

THE WAY HE WORKS
A LOT of coaches come and ask me to give them the prescription for success. If they want a prescription, they should go to the doctor. Football is not like that.

BEING ARROGANT
IF someone says they are the best, I say they are confident and they have a great chance of working with me.

HIS CRITICS
THEY’RE always accusing me. They’ll continue to attack me and question everything I do.

I’m not embittered, I don’t feel persecuted and I don’t see enemies everywhere. I follow my path and do so more and more calmly.

STARTING A NEW JOB
I’M privileged. I can arrive at a club and impose my ideas without depending on this or that.

I like to start projects and think things through calmly. The most important thing is to know the team and to get the most out of the good things.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST
WITH the passion I have for my work, the pleasure it gives me, I feel that I’m a better coach than when I set out.

I feel that the experiences and difficulties I’ve had have made me stronger. I’ve still got room to learn and just need health to continue.

WIN AT ALL COSTS
AT the beginning I was different, because I had less to lose.

Sometimes, when a player is running along near the touchline, I feel like putting my foot out — but then the thought leaves me.

I still want to win but nowadays it’s with a different maturity.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL
I DON’T know if English football is the most spectacular.

But I’ve no doubt that it’s the one that has the best organisation, with more fair play and respect between everyone.

BEING A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE
WHAT money can give is tranquillity to make us more and more independent and better in our activity.

My father always told me: ‘The more money you earn, the better coach you will be.’

MOTIVATING HIS PLAYERS
ANYONE who has never won wants to win; anyone who has already won enjoys it and wants to repeat it.

My job is about managing people as much as tactics on the pitch. Without players who can and want to win, we’re not capable of winning.

My path has been made with great respect for players, be it those who fight with me or those who we worthily fight against as fellow professionals.

BEING FEARLESS
I STAND up to the bullets that come my way — and I always will.

I was born this way in football and will die this way.

HIS ANTICS
MY behaviour always has an aim — the defence of the interests of my club, without ever being concerned about my image.

Is that a defect or a virtue? Ask those who have worked with me.

JOB SECURITY
MY position has always been in danger wherever I’ve been because I always coach big clubs where a lot of people would like to coach; because I always leave teams assembled for future years; because I always leave excellent working conditions and structures for whoever takes over.

THE FUTURE
I’VE had great years but the next ones are always the most important.

I don’t celebrate winning titles a lot because I never want to think it’s the last one I win.

Anyone who wants to see me playing safe and failing will be disappointed.

I think it’s natural that I will win more trophies in my career.