Chelsea hit back as Porto blow up storm
Mourinho faces a hostile reception from Porto fans when he goes back to the club he led to the Champions League title last season.
It will be his first return to Porto since moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer and the Portuguese fans are in no mood to forgive him for walking out.
In the first game in London, Mourinho was spat at and abused by visiting fans and Chelsea are bracing themselves for more of the same.
Fan Helder Mota issued death threats against Mourinho on the night of their Champions League victory last season and is now being taken to court by the Chelsea manager, who is denying his accusation that he had an affair with his wife.
Chelsea were given a police escort to their team hotel after landing in Porto on Monday and Mourinho opted out of the press conference, sending assistant Steve Clarke instead.
And Clarke wasted no time in biting back at the Porto chief's latest outburst in which he called Chelsea 'a small, nothing club' at the publicity launch for his book this weekend.
The Blues coach said: "We think we are a big club.
"Obviously, you have to respect Porto's achievements over the last two years they are the current European champions on the field.
"But we think we are a big club because of the way we conduct our business on and off the pitch.
"We are trying to get to the top of the profession if you like we are trying to be European champions and the top side in England. That's what we are after.
"But there's more to being a big club than winning trophies it is how you conduct yourselves and how you look after your employees.
"I think anybody who has been at Chelsea Football Club and then left and come back has been well received and looked after.
"There's lots of things that go to make up being a big club. If Jose Mourinho was to win the Champions League with Chelsea and if he ever came back to the club with another team, he would get a tremendous reception from the fans."
Clarke added that, despite his absence, Mourinho would be preparing for tonight's game in the normal manner and would have no sadness if he kicked Porto out of the competition by winning.
He added: "We expect the fans to be hostile. That's normal for an away tie in Europe.
But Jose is looking on this game as another match.
"He wants to win and he's very motivated.
"It's obviously got a little bit of a special meaning for him but he likes to win football matches.
"But I don't think there will be any sadness if he puts them out.
"He's now the manager of Chelsea and is a professional he wants Chelsea to win every match now."
Meanwhile Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has warned Carlo Cudicini that his daily motivation is to keep him out of the side.
Cech arrived in Porto knowing he faces a renewed battle for the number one jersey.
Cech has kept Cudicini on the bench for most of this season since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
But the 6ft 7in goalkeeper is likely to be one of the players rested tonight.
He knows that will hand his Italian rival another chance to impress Mourinho and win back the jersey he held with such distinction before Cech's dominance began.
If, as is likely, Mourinho opts to give Cudicini another outing, it could not have come at a better time for the 31-year-old stopper.
He has been linked with a £3million move to Arsenal when the transfer window reopens next month but close friends say he will stay at least until the end of the season.
But Cech said: "I hate being on the bench, just hate it!
"Staying number one at this club is really what motivates me every day.
"When I came to Chelsea, Carlo helped me a lot, giving me some English that would help me on the pitch.
"In pre-season there was big competition between us and this has continued until now.
"He wants to win his place back and that is normal.
"Everyone wants to build up big stories about Cech versus Cudicini but we are both professionals.
"We both want to be number one and both are working hard to get what we want.
"Things can change very quickly in football one day you are on the top and the next you are down the bottom.
"Just before I came to Chelsea I gave this a lot of thought maybe I would be on the bench and things would not work out so well for me. I didn't know that I would win my place straight away, start so strongly and keep so many clean sheets."
Cudicini has made must four appearances under Mourinho this season three in the Carling Cup and one in the Champions League.
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