Jose Mourinho: This is the truth about my Chelsea exit

JOSE MOURINHO insists his Chelsea departure was not by mutual consent and that it was his former club that wielded the axe.

By Marc Williams                                 

Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December

The current Manchester United boss was ousted by Blues owner Roman Abramovich in December, just a matter of months after guiding the club to Premier League glory.

Mourinho suffered a torrid run of form before finally being given the chop but is adamant he was discarded by Abramovich and did not agree with the dismissal.

He told Sky Sports: "Mr Abramovich decided to sack me. I left with not one bad word about anything or anyone at the club.

"It was not mutual consent. That was in my first period at Chelsea when I agreed it was time to change.

"I was keen to change, more than ready to go to other countries but this time it was not like that.

"It was a decision by the owner and I was informed of that decision. I accepted it in a polite way and we signed the papers. I did it in a calm, respectful way."

Mourinho, who is set to face his former club at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, does accept his Stamford Bridge sacking is just part of modern football and believes he did his job well in west London.

He added: "It's not nice for me or anyone but that's life, I took it in a positive way.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sacked Jose Mourinho in December

"To be sacked is [part of] football, many of the best managers in the history of football have had their moment to be sacked.

"Of course there are exceptions but normally, and especially in modern football, you are in a position where it can happen to anyone.

"If it was a club where I gave nothing it would be more difficult.

"When I leave the club that in two different periods I gave titles and, to the fans, some of the best moments that a club's supporters can have, then I leave with a feeling of 'I did my job'."

Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho during his final weeks at Chelsea

 

Mourinho stayed in London following his Chelsea exit and then joined United in May, something he says he was lucky to do.

He added: "I waited for what I preferred, which was to stay in England, in the Premier League and I was lucky to have a big club like Manchester United.

"It took a couple of days [to get over it] and then it was finished and I started my life in a common way.

"I was still in London, I kept a house there, I was walking in the street, going to the gym, watching football…"