Jose - I'm not the Special One

Mourinho's delight at arrival at 'special club'

By Nadia Carminati   Last updated: 3rd June 2008

Jose Mourinho 2008

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I have not forgotten how to be a big coach, but I only want to be Jose Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho
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Jose Mourinho insists he does not want to be known as the 'Special One' after being officially unveiled as manager of Internazionale.

The former Chelsea boss and self-dubbed 'Special One' has succeeded Roberto Mancini at the Serie A champions after agreeing a three-year contract at Inter nine months after walking out of Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho admits he is looking forward to the challenge at Inter, where it is expected the Portuguese will be charged with the task of winning the UEFA Champions League and ending the Italian giants' 43-year wait for a European Cup.

"I think I have arrived at a special club and I believe I am a great coach but I don't want to be special," Mourinho told Italian media in his first press conference.

"I have not forgotten how to be a big coach, but I only want to be Jose Mourinho, who is the same person, who has the same ambition, the same motivations, and the same passion for football.

Passion

"President (Massimo) Moratti asked me to be Jose Mourinho, and it means to work with a big passion, and start a new cycle."

Mourinho has been expected to make wholesale changes at the Giuseppe Meazza and he has been linked with moves for Chelsea players Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho.

However, Mourinho insists the Inter squad - who have won three successive domestic league titles - will only require fine tuning.

"I read many things in the papers about Inter needing 60 players," Mourinho added. "This is not true. I only want 21 players and three goalkeepers.

"I think the team is good, and I don't need to make revolutionary changes. We think we need two or three players to be more competitive.

Philosophy

"I want to have the possibility to change the philosophy of play. When I read I don't like someone and I want to buy all European players, it's not true.

"I like this group. I like the players and I have big faith in this group. Inter don't want to be the king of the market, but we want to improve two or three players".

Mourinho also revealed that Inter first approached him after the Champions League defeat to Liverpool in March when Mancini offered to quit, before later retracting his statement.

"The first time Inter spoke with me was after the first match against Liverpool", Mourinho concluded.