Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea’s lack of success since he left, proves the club were wrong to part company with him.
The Blues have won just one trophy, last season’s FA Cup, since owner Mourinho left by ‘mutual consent’ in September 2007.
In comparison, Mourinho, who is set to face Chelsea next week with current club Inter in the Champions League last 16, brought two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho said in Nuts magazine: “Chelsea have suffered in the last two years, and it’s no coincidence that their decline happened after I left.
“We had a unique relationship as a manager, players and fans, and when you break that, it’s not easy to fix.
“They’ve had a lot of coaches since and maybe some didn’t have the mentality for the club. Maybe they tried to change too much of what we put in place.
“I knew there was no time for a long-term plan with the owner they have at Stamford Bridge. You must win the title in your first season or say bye-bye.
“I gave them what they needed, but I always knew it wasn’t a job that would last forever.
“Maybe they would’ve been better off sticking with me than changing manager when they did.”
The reunion with Chelsea will see Mourinho pitted against an old foe in former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti.
He said: “Ancelotti is no friend of mine and this won’t change. In England, you’re shown respect if you’re a foreign coach who comes in and offers his experience and knowledge.
“But in Italy, this respect only comes if you’re born as an Italian. Someone like me, the foreigner, isn’t considered worthy of being here. This is why I say I was happier working in England.”
He added: “But I’m a part of Chelsea’s history forever and they’ll always be a big part of me. Let’s see if Ancelotti can finish his time at Chelsea with a record as good as mine!”
