I was never friends with Abramovich, claims Mourinho

The former Chelsea manager has no intention of "washing his dirty linen" in public by divulging the details behind his sacking.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (File Photo | AP)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (File Photo | AP)

Jose Mourinho has claimed that he was "never friends and never close" with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich but insisted he has no intention of "washing his dirty linen" in public by divulging the details behind his sacking by the club.
Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge as the Manchester United manager tomorrow (Sunday) for the first time since being dismissed by Abramovich last December, seven months after leading Chelsea to the Premier League title.
Mourinho said he did not want a "very good reception" from Chelsea fans because he will be "defending a rival club" but claimed he would not hold it against them if they booed him and vowed not to celebrate like "a crazy kid" out of respect should United score.
"He [Abramovich] was never my friend," Mourinho said. "We always had the relationship of owner-manager - a very respectful relationship. We were never friends. We were never close to each other. So, no, he is just a person that I keep very respected.
"If I go to his house I just go for professional reasons. If we see each other it is only because of that. We never shared anything personal. We were not friends maybe because I was really respectful to the position of the owner, also in terms of his profile to the manager. We didn't have problems but we were not close. When he made the decision that I was not the right man for his club, it is the power that he has. I just have to accept it."
Having guided Chelsea to three Premier League titles during two spells at the club, Mourinho claimed it would be impossible to "delete" him from their history but is adamant he left with no ill feeling.
"When some managers leave clubs, they like to ... I don't know the right saying but in Portuguese it is 'wash the dirty clothes'," Mourinho said. "It means speak about what happened. Go back and speak and speak and speak.
"I leave clubs with a very good feeling, the feeling of doing everything to succeed. I gave everything to the club. I don't like to go back and speak, especially about the bad things. I want to keep the good things - and at Chelsea I had so many good things, in terms of results, friends I have for life, an amazing empathy with the fans. 
"The supporters didn't change their relationship with me because of last season and a couple of months of bad results. I keep all these good memories. The things that [happened] ... I don't forget, I keep it, but I keep it to myself.
"I don't think they want to but even if they did they couldn't delete me from Chelsea Football Club history. I am there in Chelsea history and they are in my history. There are no reasons for bad feelings. The owner decided to sack me, the fans they have no power. They showed day by day, match after match, that they wanted me. 
"Mr Abramovich decided to sack me, I left with not a bad word about one anybody at the club. This is my way. I wasn't sat at home crying. I think I was the one at the house with better spirits at the time." 
Mourinho said he would show every respect towards the Chelsea crowd. "I don't expect a negative reaction [from the Chelsea fans]," he said. "Even if I go with a Man United badge and I go to fight for Man United, there is no reason for a bad reception I think. If they are going to give me a very good reception, I hope not. I'm not their manager now. I'm defending a rival.
"I played there with Inter Milan. I tried to do my job. If you ask me if my team score a goal, am I going to celebrate like a crazy kid? No. No. I think I can control the emotion of that situation. Am I going to have a negative reaction if the crowd has something negative with me? No.
"It doesn't matter their reaction but I will be grateful always. We shared some unbelievable moments - so many happy and historical moments.
"What I keep is the bad moments where they stuck with me. We played a Champions League match at home after a home defeat with people speaking about sacking [me] and for the whole of the match they were just singing my name all the time.." 
Mourinho said he expects the title race to go down to the wire. 
"My feeling is it will be close and probably one team that you think is playing for the title in March, probably in May doesn't finish in the top four. I think it is going to be really tight." 

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