Jose Mourinho opened up on how his public persona differs to his personal life, and insists his successes at Manchester United were not fully appreciated.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Mourinho spoke candidly about his time at Old Trafford, and believes winning the Europa League in 2017 and finishing second to 100-point Manchester City in 2018 constituted real success.
"So maybe it's my fault because the tendency is to close myself in a shell. Then also my fault because what people see is the 90 minutes. The way you behave in the game, the way you appear on camera. People who see me in street say: 'Oh you look younger. Oh I thought you were a little bit fatter, you look slimmer. Oh you are taller, we thought you were small'.
"So I think TV changed the perspectives.
"I am what I am. I don't act. I see people acting. I don't act, Everything is natural. When I'm on the bench and don't celebrate a goal it's natural, I am focused on what is coming. It's natural when I grab the bottles of water and throw them. It's natural when I kick a bottle. What you see is what it is. If I have reason to smile, I smile. I love to smile. I cannot explain."
Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 - "the job that everyone wants" - winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in his first campaign.
He says the second-place finish in 2017/18 was an even bigger achievement, but admits he was surprised at the criticism he received and thought the success deserved more credit.
"I can just say that the Manchester United time was not an easy time. I always felt that to win the Europa League was fantastic and it didn't look like it was, the way people approach it.
"To finish second was even more than that [success], so probably I was feeling a little bit like: 'Wow, I'm working well, I'm giving everything and I'm not getting what I think that deserves'.
"The only thing I can promise you is that when I have the next club, the next project, I will be so, so happy that I will walk into that press conference with a big smile. That I can promise."
After winning an unprecedented Champions League with Porto in 2004, a year after UEFA Cup success, Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge 15 years ago with credit in the bank.
Fifteen years after his first press conference at Chelsea, Mourinho explained how he came to label himself a "Special One", and though he insists the context of the original label was slightly altered, he had no problem with it sticking.
"When I gave my first press conference I was asked if I was ready for the Premier League. I thought: 'What? I just won the CL and you are thinking that I am nobody?'
"So, I went a little bit aggressive by saying I am not one from the bottle, I am 'a' special one. But then, bang, it stayed. No problem."
Khan1999
53
If you don't give a manager what he wants He cannot give you the results you want Woodward is the one who should be blamed and come this December i think same is going to happen with Ole Deadwood is destroying us
TinoTino
37
This guy again!!!!! πππ I just had this argument with a friend if his tenor at United was a failurr or success, well cos my friend is a UTD fan he said he was successful and was like π³π³π. For his standard, for man utds pedigree, for the no of players he signed and couldn't get the best out of them I say he failed in delivering the most important which is ucl or epl. Yes he won the FA Cup and europa which is what arsenal should be bragging about. Pls no offence to arsenal fans... What I'm saying is in his 3yrs at utd he should have performed better. If it was pep that won europa n FA and Mou won 2 epl, fa, carling... We would also term guardiola as a failure
Desmondeyum
24
Running out of options - is Jose Mourinho about to join the managerial graveyard?
humabko
23
I think your public relations is very very poor. No body talks good of you except some players. In almost all teams you created a rift between some players, and some against the board. It is people to appreciate you when you do good. You are not humble and at your age you will never be humble.Allow others to take credit not only you. The truth is that though undoubtedly you are a good coach most good teams are reluctant to hire you. Why can you not think that you could coach a Team for 6 years or 10. You are always on the move,that is why even the successes you recorded in Man u are not hot about it. Your tactics were awful ,the list is long. Let me send here Mr. Mourinho