Only Chelsea for me, I didn’t want to be next Fergie, says Jose Mourinho

New Delhi: In an attempt to counter suspicions that Old Trafford was the destination he really coveted on his return to England, José Mourinho has revealed that he and Sir Alex Ferguson privately confided their plans to one another months before they became public. 

Mourinho ended his six-year Premier League exile when he breezed back into Chelsea for the second coming of the Special One.

The 50-year-old was tipped to take the Old Trafford job as news leaked Fergie was retiring and Mourinho was being axed by Real Madrid.

But the Portuguese coach insisted: “I’d have turned down every job in the world for Chelsea.

“Of course I told Sir Alex I wanted to return to Stamford Bridge.”

And Mourinho revealed he was bowled over by the trust put in him when told by Ferguson he was walking away from Old Trafford.

He added: “I knew Ferguson was retiring months ago and I’m happy with his trust as it was big news.

“I imagine just a small circle of people around him knew about his decision and it was a responsibility for me to know what he planned.

“He told me his plan as we’re friends. And because he’s a friend, I told him the club I wanted to coach in England was Chelsea again.”

Mourinho’s determination to stay in an elite group has meant he has never been afraid to ring changes if players do not meet his standards.

After signing his new four-year deal at Chelsea, Mourinho insisted he would underline just what he expected from his players from the most senior to the new recruits.

He added: “Some of the lads will have already heard what I’ll say when I report for my job at the club next month and they’ll hear it again.

“It’s something I’ll always say on the first day. It is: If you’re a top pro, if you’re not selfish, if you put the club in front of yourself and if you’re here to work 100 per cent for me, your fellow players and the club, then we’ll have a great relationship.

“But if you’re selfish, if you think about yourself and don’t care about the club, the image, the fans then we’re in big trouble.”