Jose Mourinho will be sadly missed, especially by journalists, as he provided such fantastic copy, starting with the famous first press conference. It's often not quoted in full, even by the Times/Guardian/BBC etc:
Again, please don't call me arrogant, because what I'm saying is true. I'm European champion, so I'm not one (pause) of the bottle. I think I'm a special one.
link to Sky Sports video
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-1284939,00.html
Another great piece of Mourinho showmanship was the 2005 press conference for a round of16 Champs League tie, when he cheekily (& correctly) predicted the Barca line-up (& peeved Frank Riijkard by depriving him his right to announce his own team ).
Today Mourinho said how he felt he had 'another family at the training ground'. No wonder Drogba was (allegedly) in tears when Jose said his goodbyes to the squad at Cobham.
He has been criticised for favouring a pragmatic playing style, but two league titles, an FA Cup, two ECL semi-finals & two League Cups in three seasons, is a fantastic return, even allowing for the amount spent on players. Unfortunately Mr Abramovich wanted his team to play beautiful, attacking football. The warning signs of his disastisfaction were evident from his early exit from Chelsea's Villa Park defeat. Mourinho however, has presided over the most successful period in Chelsea's history, including breaking Liverpool's record for the most successive top-flight home games without defeat.
Even his fiercest managerial rivals have spoken today & yesterday of the loss to the Premiership. Occasional gracelessness in defeat is the only negative of Mourinho's time in England.
His first English fixture was a 1-0 home win over Man U. His successor, Avram Grant, will play the same opponents at Old Trafford in his first game in charge tomorrow.
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