In the midst of Chelsea's current crisis, a section of fans at Stamford Bridge found themselves chanting José Mourinho's name during their recent defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. This may seem like a nostalgic desire, reminiscent of the successful periods Mourinho had as Chelsea manager in 2004-2007 and 2013-2015, but the reality is that should Mauricio Pochettino pay the price for the team's disastrous season, Mourinho is available.
It's no secret that Mourinho remains the most successful manager in Chelsea's history. While he didn't bring home the elusive Champions League trophy during his time at the club, unlike Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel, he did win an impressive seven major trophies, including three Premier League titles, across his two stints as manager. The key players from his first great team at Chelsea, such as Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba, became the foundation of the successes achieved under subsequent managers. However, it's important to recognize that nostalgia tends to cloud judgment, allowing us to only remember the good times – the trophies, the formidable aura of Chelsea under Mourinho, and his famous declaration of being 'a special one.'
