Jose Mourinho has revealed his reason for returning to Chelsea was to build a team "for the next decade".
The 52-year-old managed Chelsea between 2004 and 2007 before leaving for spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
He returned to the Blues in 2013 and has said that the challenge of a long-term project was what lured him back.
Mourinho told Sky Sports News: "Chelsea was my first love outside of my country and a special place for me. This new Chelsea profile was important to bring me back.
"Mr Abramovich is very sure of what he wants, stability, to meet financial fair play, working completely to the financial fair play rules where to buy you have to sell. We have to work the academy and the project was a real challenge.
"The team in 2004-05 had finished and we have just a couple of players left from then. Chelsea needed to build a team for the next decade and that was great motivation."
Chelsea are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Giuseppe Labellarte
