Live Coverage: Jose Mourinho press conference - as it happened

Monday saw Jose Mourinho give his first press conference since returning to Chelsea as manager.

Over 200 journalists gathered at Stamford Bridge to hear the 'Special One' talk about his ambitions, his mindset and his plans for the squad.

While it wasn't the explosive affair that many were predicting, the Portuguese coach was still the centre of attention.

Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below to see what he had to say.

2.34pmAnyway, that's all from us for now. Thank you very much for your company and we hope to see you soon"

2.33pmAnd with that, Jose Mourinho takes a sip of water and leaves his first press conference since returning as Chelsea manager. It wasn't quite the explosive affair that many were predicting. What we can say for certain is that he wants to come across as a more mature individual who is now more in control of his emotions. Whether that is true or not we will only know when the Premier League season gets underway in August.

2.31pmWhat are you weaknesses as a coach? "Every team, every player, every manager has weaknesses but I will keep it to myself what my weaknesses are. There are not many."

2.30pmMourinho again insists that he is not looking to spend a lot of money. He says he has to get to know the players who are already at the club before thinking about any additions. "A couple of signings - that's normal."

2.27pm"I think the club is ready for a different approach. We are all prepared for a different era with a different profile of team."

2.23pmOn Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne: "I think it is fair that players are told first about their future and not hear about it through the media. We need to make a decision which is best for me, the players, but, most importantly, the club. It is my work to extract the best out of them. I think both of them are ready to come and ready to be part of our squad."

2.21pm"There is a very positive atmosphere here. I'm happy to be back at this club, in this league and in this city. I feel like I'm better manager to deal with my emotions."

2.19pmMourinho confirms that Paolo Ferreira has left the club and he isn't particularly bothered by there being no Portuguese players in his squad.

2.17pmHow do you rate Arsenal's title chances? "I think Arsenal are a great example for a football club."

2.15pmAny regrets on life in Spain? "No. I can say with pride that I managed a big club like Real."

2.13pmOn Andres Iniesta's recent comments that he damaged Spanish football: "I damaged Spanish football by being the man who broke Barcelona's dominance."

2.11pmOn not being offered the Manchester City or Manchester United jobs: "I'm where I want to be. This is my job, the job I want."

2.10pmMourinho is talking about how the Premier League is now a much more competitive place than when he was here last. He expects Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to all challenge this year."

2.08pm"I can speak about future. I know what John Terry can give. Let's try to make him an important player that he couldn't be last season. [Rafael] Benitez's decisions are Benitez's decision and I must respect that."

2.07pmOn dropping Iker Casillas at Real Madrid last season: "I play the players who I think are best for the team. As a manager I can only be honest with myself so if I think someone deserves to play then he will play. If a player has a big profile, I cannot give him a privilege."

2.05pm"I think Chelsea has to focus on every competition. Everything is important. The Champions League cannot be an obsession for me. I don't think it can be an obsession for Chelsea because they won it [in 2012]. Let's be there fighting every season. The Premier League is a different competition. The best team wins so let's try to be the best."

2.03pm"I think the [squad] deserves stability. They have great quality in football terms. The older players are important for balance."

2.01pm"I've moved to a league where you lose more times, you lose more points, but the competition is open."

2pm"I'm disappointed that I will go back to Old Trafford and Sir Alex [Ferguson] will not be there but David Moyes has the protection of the club to do well. Wenger is [still] there - and I'm happy he is."

1.58pm"There are still a few boys from my time [here before]. They know my nature as a manager but they don't have an advantage in relation to other people. The club has signed some boys with great potential in the last few years. I think every club, especially a club like us, has the ambition to sign new players. I think the most important part of my job at the moment is to improve [the current squad]."

1.56pm"I can't say which press I prefer but you are not the worst." Big laughs from those assembled as Mourinho has a sly pop at the Spanish media.

1.55pm"I am prepared for more stability [this time around]. I always love adventure like Portuguese people of the past."

1.54pmWhen asked if he likes talking to the media, Mourinho gives a wry smile and says: "No, but it's part of the job. I try to be as honest and as open as I can but what I really want to do is work."

1.52pm"Have I got calmer? Yes, I think so. Experience in life is something very important. In football, I analyse every day. I try to learn and I try to improve. I'm the same but nine years [since I first took charge] is a long time. I just want to be calm, to be working every day and I think I'm at the best moment in my career."

1.50pm"My adventure around Europe has been fantastic for me. It was a fantastic period for me. I'm still very young as a manager. Do I have a different personality? No. Do I have a different approach, a different perspective? Yes."

1.49pmJose seems to be very eager to emphasise how he is starting afresh. He understands that his success in the past defined him but he also wants to achieve more.

1.48pm"I want to be loved for what I can do from now. I come here to give my best."

1.47pm"I think my relationship with the owner has to be private. Not just with him but also with the board. I think that privacy is crucial. We all need to pull in the same direction. We have maturity, very good feelings, the perspective of the club. More and more in the world of football you have to be deeply connected with other areas in the club. I am very calm and very relaxed. "The expectations are higher and I know this club has a special fanbase."

1.45pmIt's all very measured and moderate from Jose at the moment.

1.44pmOn his relationship with Roman Abramovich: "I keep hearing I was sacked and that we had a complete breakdown of our relationship. That wasn't true. It was a mutual agreement. Of course it was a sad moment but I don't regret the decision. For Chelsea, things went well [when I left]. There was never a breakdown of our relationship."

1.42pm"This time is a new kind of feeling. I want to believe [more success] is possible. I know a lot of people who work here and my career was built on success. I have to believe that. I want my players to work hard. The club is much more important than ourselves. If you work well, success arrives."

1.40pmAsked if he still considers himself the Special One, he says: "I'm the happy one. I'm a very happy person. It's the first time that I arrive at a club where I already love the club."

1.39pmAnd now he is holding up the Chelsea shirt as the photographers continue to snap away. Here we go...

1.38pmNeedless to say there is a blinding amount of flashbulbs going off as Jose Mourinho sits down to address the media. It's a surprise he isn't wearing sunglasses.

1.37pmHere he comes!

1.33pmWe can safely say that the Special One is running late. He must be preening himself backstage somewhere...

1.30pmIt will be interesting to see whether Mourinho will be asked about his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. His departure from the club back in 2007 was down to a disagreement with the Russian billionaire but it appears that they have made up. For now.

1.27pmIt is understood that there are around 40 television cameras set up inside the conference room. Needless to say, they are primed and ready for Mourinho's entrance. He should be out soon, though his acute sense of drama and timing means that he may well be late.

1.24pmDespite his stance on transfer dealings, Mourinho is expected to bring in new players this summer. The club's biggest signing could well be Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who recently admitted that he would like to play under the Portuguese.

1.22pm"We have to improve the team, but when I say improve the team people are already thinking about how many millions Chelsea will spend," he told ChelseaTV. "When I say improve the team, I mean through work. "My work has to improve players and improve the team. If I don't do that I am not happy with myself."

1.20pmThere has been a lot of speculation as to who Mourinho will sign this summer after flashing plenty of cash during his first spell at Stamford Bridge. However, he recently claimed that he is eager to achieve success through hard work and not with big-name signings.

1.18pmAnd that is one thing that Mourinho can guarantee: success. He went on to win two Serie A titles, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia with Inter Milan before guiding Real Madrid to the Spanish championship and the Copa del Rey.

1.15pmOf course, while there was plenty to talk about off the pitch, Mourinho also enjoyed lots of success on it. The Blues won their first league title in 50 years under the Portuguese before going on to defend their championship. There was also two League Cups and the FA Cup.

1.12pmWatch the video below to sample some of the (amusing) highlights from his first spell at the club:

1.10pmMourinho told the club's official television channel: "I am very happy. I have to prepare myself to not be too emotional at my arrival. It was an easy decision. I met the owner and I think in five minutes, after a couple of very short, but pragmatic questions, we decided straight away."

1.08pmHowever, when it came to returning to Chelsea, the 50-year-old said that it took him a matter of minutes to make up his mind.

1.07pmMourinho, who has signed a four-year deal with the club, recently left Real Madrid following three years in Spain that were anything but dull.

1.05pmThere is certainly a huge sense of excitement and anticipation at Stamford Bridge right now as around 250 journalists await the arrival of one of football's most colourful and controversial characters.

1.03pmMourinho enjoyed a successful three years when he was first at Chelsea as he won two Premier League title, two League Cups and the FA Cup.

1.02pmTHE SPECIAL ONE IS BACK! Who would have thought it, eh? The Portuguese coach was confirmed as the new boss at Stamford Bridge last week after leaving the Blues in 2007.

1.01pmHello there and a very warm welcome from Sports Mole ahead of a big day for Chelsea as Jose Mourinho holds his first press since returning as manager at the club.

Live Coverage: Jose Mourinho press conference - as it happened

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