Jose Mourinho makes his emotional return to Chelsea on Tuesday night, leading Benfica against the club where he became and then cemented his spot as a legend.
In the build-up to the match, the Portuguese manager has delivered a fascinating verdict on Chelsea's recent struggles and somewhat revival.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash, Mourinho revealed he believed Chelsea had "lost their identity" under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership.
"There was a set period when even myself, from the outside in, cast some question marks over it because it looked like Chelsea had lost their identity as a club," the former Blues boss admitted.
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"But what happened in the last season got things back on track. They gave trust to Enzo Maresca and he brought his ideas. He's fitted in well with the philosophy.
"The Conference League is made for a big club to win it. I did it with Roma. It's quite an easy competition to win with a big club.
Jose Mourinho has delivered a fascinating verdict on Chelsea's recent struggles and somewhat revival.
|REUTERS
"As for the Club World Cup, I have always said the Champions League is more important, but take nothing away [from their win]. That [gold] badge means a lot. It's the first time a club has won [the expanded] Club World Cup. Congratulations to them.
"Winning these trophies gives everyone a base of trust and confidence, even at supporter level. I feel it. I live five minutes away and my son comes every weekend to the stadium - the feeling is completely different after the Club World Cup.
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Chelsea won both the Club World Cup and Conference League last year
| GETTY"It was a period of disappointment and doubt, but now it's one of optimism. I think Chelsea is back on track."
The former boss described the west London club as a "winning machine", adding: "They won something before my time, then we started winning and kept winning."
Despite his criticism of the ownership structure, Mourinho's love for Chelsea remains unshakeable: "I will always be a Blue," he declared. "I am part of their history. They are part of my history.
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"I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea, and they helped me to become a bigger Jose."
But sentiment won't cloud his professional duties on Tuesday night. Mourinho made it clear that while he'll be Chelsea through and through before kick-off and after the final whistle, during those 90 minutes, his loyalty lies with Benfica.
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Jose Mourinho won three Premier League titles during his two spells as Chelsea boss
|GETTY
"When I say I am not a Blue, I am only speaking about the job I have to do tomorrow," he explained.
During his initial stint at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho won consecutive league titles including a record-breaking season that saw his side concede just 15 goals in his debut Premier League campaign.
After three further domestic trophies, the Portuguese swapped west London for Milan, where he guided Inter to a historic treble.
But Mourinho wasn't finished at Chelsea just yet, returning to the club in 2013. He guided the Blues to another Premier League title - his third - along with another League Cup.