Mourinho faced abuse and taunts from some Blues followers during Manchester United’s Premier League and FA Cup defeats there last season, despite leading the club to three titles during his two spells as manager.
He could face some cheeky chants about allegations he defrauded the Spanish government of tax from his image rights deal while at Real Madrid – although at a court hearing yesterday he insisted he had paid up what he owed.
Mourinho says fans are always friendly when they meet him face-to-face – his family home is still in west London – but accepts that when he is in the stadium as a rival manager they are entitled to do what they want.
Asked if he was upset by the reaction he received last season, he said: “No, that’s football, that’s not a problem for me at all. I walk down the street and outside the football heat, outside the football environment, especially in the area where I live, I get so many Chelsea supporters and I didn’t have a single one that isn’t nice.
“What happened in the football stadium was a different thing. When I walk in the street in London, I’m just a normal guy.
“When I go to Stamford Bridge and sit in that dugout, on the right side of the tunnel, I’m the manager of their opponents, so I accept every possible reaction with the utmost respect.”
As for the tax fraud case, Mourinho said outside a court in Madrid: “I paid and signed with the state that I am in compliance and the case is closed.”
