The Special One is yet to lift the European title with the Blues having done it so far with Porto and Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho starts his latest Champions League campaign tonight, insisting that he “does not think a lot” about making history in the competition but giving the strong impression that it has crossed his mind more than once or twice.
If Chelsea, who play Schalke at Stamford Bridge, triumph in the Champions League final in Berlin next June, Mourinho will become the first manager to win the competition with three different clubs. They were knocked out in the semi-finals by Atletico Madrid last season but have improved since and are rightly among the favourites.
Mourinho said that Chelsea are still “far from perfection” but they certainly look better equipped, with the additions of Diego Costa and CescFabregas, as well as the maturing of NemanjaMatic and Eden Hazard. It was Hazard’s mistake that was so costly against Atletico last season but Mourinho sees growth in the 23-year-old, who is close to signing a new deal.
“Even last year he was changing, from a kid living on his natural talent, starting to have some tactical education and mental education,” he said. “Now we want what his talent allows him to do, to go from a top player to one of the greats of his generation.”