Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that it was “hard” for him to watch Chelsea go through difficult years under Todd Boehly’s ownership, as he prepares for an emotional return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles across two spells with the Blues, will be back in West London for the first time in years. But the Portuguese tactician insists he is not overly concerned about the reception he will get from Chelsea supporters.
“Chelsea. Abramovich’s Chelsea, my Chelsea, the Chelsea we built and lasted for many years, was a winning club,” Mourinho said.
“It was winning everything with me and then with (Carlo) Ancelotti, with (Antonio) Conte and with (Thomas) Tuchel. Chelsea was a winning machine. Every season, Chelsea was winning.
“Then there was a big change with crazy investment and a period of a few years where it looked like they lost direction, with too many players, too many millions, accumulation of players and a team without a clear philosophy.
“For a couple of years, it was hard. For one who loves the club, it was hard.”
Boehly, who led a consortium to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022, has overseen a turbulent period at Stamford Bridge marked by huge transfer spending and managerial instability.
