Chelsea legend Pat Nevin believes the club’s former manager Jose Mourinho has already soured his relationship with Blues fans since taking over at Manchester United.
The Portuguese tactician had two spells in charge at Stamford Bridge, winning three Premier League titles to establish himself as their most successful manager ever.
Still, Mourinho did not get a warm welcome back to Chelsea in the FA Cup this week, as his United side lost 1-0 on his return to west London.
Nevin feels the 54-year-old has to take the blame for the soured relationship, as Chelsea fans are now seeing the unpleasantness he brings when he’s not your manager, but the manager of one of your rivals.
‘Chelsea fans loved Jose for what he did at the club, but like any intense relationship after a break up it can get rather
fractious,’ Nevin wrote in his column for Chelsea’s official website.
‘All the classic signs were there; blame, anger, bringing up things from the past that really don’t need saying.’
The Scot added that Chelsea fans won’t have taken kindly to Mourinho’s digs at new manager Antonio Conte, who has proven hugely popular as his replacement this season.
‘There is also the fact that there are new relationships involved. We have Antonio and he has Manchester United and maybe that is the crux of it for many,’ Nevin explained.
‘When Jose says anything negative, even if it is coded, about Antonio Conte then Chelsea fans are simply not going to accept it. Mutual if distant respect would be fine but anything else is going to grate.
‘Jose summed it up in an off-the-cuff remark in the press conference. He said, “I am a professional and Manchester United is now my team.” In reality everything else is bluster, right now he has to do what he feels is best for his club and his relationship with them.’
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