Thierry Henry spoke honestly about former rival Jose Mourinho on CBS Sports as the Roma manager continues to be linked with a return back to Chelsea. The Special One, as he crowned himself upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004, is an outsider for the managerial hotseat once more.
With pressure mounting on Graham Potter ahead of the crucial clash against Tottenham on Sunday some supporters have turned to nostalgic memories of Mourinho's great side from the mid-2000s for positivity. Although his return to England didn't go as well, recent struggles at Manchester United and Spurs following a calamitous third season at the Blues in 2015, the new Mourinho in Italy brings a smile to the faces of those that adore him.
With the jury still out on Potter for many fans, there is hope that should Mourinho, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, return to SW6 once more that he could sort them out. This may well be a pipedream though with the new owners remaining by Potter's side.
READ MORE: Chelsea will love Mykhailo Mudryk and Arsenal revelation as transfer chief sends Blues message
Not only that but the pragmatic coaching history of the Portuguese boss mixed with the new direction at Chelsea makes it a reality that is hard to see. Mourinho has praised the Blues in a candid interview recently and has reportedly made himself available for a third stint, although there is no indication it is being considered by the club.
There are also understandable questions over Mourinho's suitability to a high level job at this current stage in his career having not won a domestic league since 2015.
Regardless of this and the way Mourinho has been framed throughout his career as overly defensive and an issue for attacking players, Henry had no qualms with his approach. Speaking after Wednesday night's Champions League action, Henry named Mourinho when asked who was the one manager he never played under that he wished he had.
Both Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards were stunned to hear the response of such a free-flowing attacker in his pomp, but Henry stuck to his guns, explaining, "Because I would have liked him to upset me sometimes because he was like that."
Carragher then queried the defensive and negative ways labelled on Mourinho but Henry said, "No, he wasn't scared of taking a player off at half-time. It would wind me up and sometimes I needed that."
The ability of Potter to shake up a dressing room and have that type of impact on his players has been put under the microscope in recent weeks with Mourinho's confrontational style the complete opposite to his calm demeanour.
If a switch in character at the top would make a difference to the Blues' fortunes is unknown but the former Brighton man has impressed his owners and other former Chelsea players, even if it does go against the actions of their most successful boss.
READ NEXT:
Todd Boehly sent FFP warning as Chelsea and Man City transfer spend questioned
Chelsea suffering from long-term Graham Potter problem that he must solve to avoid the sack
Joe Cole makes major Graham Potter Chelsea U-turn after Rio Ferdinand's Jose Mourinho message
Chelsea have 11 transfer decisions ahead of summer window amid Graham Potter pressure
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
