Jose Mourinho likely to get mixed reception

Jose Mourinho is unlikely to be find his position as Chelsea’s most successful manager under challenge, but that does not mean Blues fans will welcome him back with open arms as he returns with Manchester United tomorrow.

Mourinho was sacked with Chelsea facing an unlikely relegation battle last December, and it was widely reported that two or three key players had fallen out with the Special One.

The supporters, however, were more tolerant of the man who had brought them unprecedented success, including three Premier League titles, blaming petulant players for the swift fall from grace of a championship-winning side and its manager.

That is why he will not be vilified tomorrow despite seeming to covet the job at arch rivals United before, during and after both of his successful spells in London.

“I do not expect there to be any real negativity against him and a few might even chant his name at first, but the match and other events will overshadow his return,” said Tim Rolls, former chairman of the Chelsea Supporters Trust.

The club and many supporters are focussed on marking the 20th anniversary of Matthew Harding’s passing. Such is the regard for the former director, who has the ground’s north stand named after him for the way he helped rebuild the ground and the team shortly before his untimely death in a helicopter crash.

“I think the tribute to Harding will overtake any attention on Mourinho because the match is not just about Jose. United is our biggest match of the season and we have moved on from Jose now.”

Rolls claims most Chelsea fans appreciated why owner Roman Abramovich sacked Mourinho for a second time, but acknowledges there will be some who think differently and have adopted Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham as greater rivals than United.

Even at last week’s game against Leicester, managed by another former favourite Claudio Ranieri, fans were preparing for an uneasy return. One said: “We still love him, but I don’t see how we can totally forgive him for going to Manchester United. We used to see him as Chelsea through and through, but going to Man Utd sours things.

“It has not been nice seeing him in his United gear, but it has been funny watching how their fans have handled it. They always used to hate him, whoever he managed. Now they are trying to embrace him, but they are finding it difficult as well.”