Mourinho: Abramovich was never my friend
Even though Jose Mourinho delivered more trophies than any other Chelsea manager, he never shared a friendly relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich.
Quick to say that his rapport with the Russian billionaire was "respectful," Mourinho cannot reveal that he had leisurely chats on Abramovich's yacht.
Abramovich twice hired the Portuguese, the first time in 2004 and again in 2013. Mourinho's spells in charge of the Blues produced three Premier League titles, three League Cup victories, and an FA Cup, but not the one trophy Abramovich craved the most: the Champions League. It was Roberto Di Matteo who captured the continental crown in 2012.
"He was never my friend," Mourinho said, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson. "We always had the relationship of owner-manager - a very respectful relationship. We were never friends. We were never close to each other. So, no, he is just a person that I keep very respected."
Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge as a visitor for the second time, having taken his decorated Inter side to west London for a 2010 Champions League quarter-final fixture.
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He enjoyed a warm welcome back then, but it's not clear whether the Chelsea supporters will afford him a similar homecoming Sunday when his Manchester United comes to town.
"If you ask me, 'If my team scores a goal, am I going to celebrate like a crazy kid?' No. I think I can control the emotion of that situation," Mourinho added. "Am I going to have a negative reaction if the crowd has something negative with me? No. I think, again, I have the maturity enough to control the emotion."
United is looking to move up from seventh place in the Premier League table with a win over fifth-place Chelsea.