Jose Mourinho: Subdued Chelsea boss still box office attraction

Jose Mourinho now has grey hair and requires reading glasses to see his whole Chelsea vision these days - but there was still the old box office appeal as he walked into his Stamford Bridge sequel.

Jose Mourinho was more "The Sombre One" than "The Special One" as he took his place in the Ron Harris Suite as Chelsea manager for the first time since 2007, in front of more than 250 members of the world's media and 40 television crews.

And yet, despite what seemed a deliberately low-key first day back at the old office, Jose Mourinho still manages to make sure he gives off the full effect of football royalty. The old place was illuminated by the wattage of his personality, even if most of it was kept hidden.

Even the preamble to his entrance, five minutes after the appointed half-hour, carried a touch of theatre. Microphones and sound systems were tested with such feverish regularity that you wondered whether Bruce Springsteen was about to appear through the wooden side door rather than Chelsea's new manager.

The fireworks that accompanied his arrival in 2004 after winning the Champions League with Porto were kept in the box. Indeed, if this had been his opening speech back then, we might have wondered what all the fuss was about - instead we know from those intervening years of success and further honours at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Smiles were kept to a minimum. If it was a concerted attempt to present a more mature, conciliatory Jose Mourinho, he had worked hard on his delivery. Jose Mourinho even admitted he had weaknesses, although there was the quick qualification: "Not many."

 All talk of this new humble Jose must wait until the first controversial incident, the first contentious moment and the first brush with authority. Jose Mourinho said he was ready to marry Chelsea again and this was all part of the honeymoon period. Sweetness, light and harmony.

Jose Mourinho was glad to be back among the British media after the turbulence of his relationships in Madrid. "You're not the worst" was praise indeed from a man whose first Chelsea tenure was not the mutual love-in many outsiders would like to believe.

Jose Mourinho was at pains to counter suggestions his renewed relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had broken down when he first left - although the fact he left at all reveals it was hardly in good health - and he was back where he wanted to be.

Source: BBC