My stay at Chelsea was a disaster , I was in trouble – Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has described his doomed 2015/16 season at Chelsea as a “disaster”, but insisted he is happy to now be managing Manchester United.
The 53-year-old was speaking to reporters for the first time since being appointed Red Devils boss in May, and touched on his former club Chelsea and how things went horribly wrong for him in west London last year.
The Blues sacked Mourinho in December after Chelsea, who were then attempting to defend their Premier League crown, suffered their worst start to a season since 1979.
With the club hovering above the relegation zone in the lead-up to Christmas, Mourinho was relieved of his duties before being announced as Louis van Gaal’s successor at Old Trafford after the Dutchman was himself sacked by United shortly after winning the FA Cup title.
Mourinho admitted he feels confident going into his new job at United despite enduring what he described as a disastrous time at Stamford Bridge last term.
After labelling himself the ‘Special One’ and then the ‘Happy One’ upon his two appointments at Chelsea in 2004 and 2013 respectively, Mourinho was asked what he would call himself now that he’s the United manager.
“I don’t know. The other two times I was arriving in the country – this was different. I was sacked by Chelsea but I stayed in the country,” he replied.
“This is nothing new for me. It’s difficult to find the right words to describe this club. I don’t like the term ‘The Dream Job’ – this is my reality. The other one is that it’s what everyone wants and not many [managers] have the chance to have it. But I have it.
“This doesn’t make me nervous. This comes in the right moment in my career. I feel prepared and stable and have great motivation. I am where I want to be. I want to be here, in this country, in the Premier League.
“I was in trouble for the last five months [at Chelsea]: the first month was fine, the second month was not so good and after the second month it was a disaster.” Evening Standard