"The dressing room was in shock. Some Chelsea players were in tears and others hid their faces as Jose Mourinho went to each of them to say his goodbyes. Eighteen years have passed since Mourinho's first spell at the club ended, but that "sad day" at the training ground stuck with Salomon Kalou. "It was not just a manager we were losing," said Kalou, who played for Chelsea from 2006-2012."
""It was a great person, a mentor, someone who was willing to help you and fight for you. "The reason why he's the 'Special One' is because he affects people. He brings something very special to a club. Not everyone has such fond memories of Mourinho, of course, from his subsequent second coming at Chelsea or, indeed, some of the clubs he has managed since."
"Such a prospect felt a long way off when Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce last month. But an unexpected opportunity arrived sooner than even Mourinho could have imagined. Mourinho was in Barcelona with his wife Matilde when the call came from Benfica president Rui Costa. "Is it worth talking?" Costa asked him, after dismissing Bruno Lage following Benfica's shock defeat by Qarabag."
The dressing room at Chelsea reacted with shock and tears as Jose Mourinho said his goodbyes, leaving a lasting impression on Salomon Kalou. Kalou described Mourinho as more than a manager: a great person, mentor, and fighter who affects people and brings something special to a club. Benfica expects Mourinho's aura to reappear on the Champions League stage as he returns to Stamford Bridge intent on beating Chelsea. Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce last month. Benfica president Rui Costa contacted him in Barcelona and asked, "Is it worth talking?" Costa later claimed a two-year deal paying about €3m net rising to €4m next season.
Read at www.bbc.com
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