Mourinho did not lack for confidence on his return to top-level football

By Saj Chowdhury

"I believe I am a great coach but I don't want to be special."

That was Jose Mourinho's self-assessment, after being unveiled as the new coach at Inter Milan earlier this week.

Back in 2004, he announced himself in almost messianic style as "the Special One" during his first news conference as Chelsea boss.

He may have downgraded his tag slightly, but the arrogance and cockiness that made him such a love-hate figure with the English press was still prevalent as he introduced himself in front of the excited Italian media - and in their own language.

"Everybody was surprised by Mourinho's Italian. He showed he is very self-confident and very assertive and this is the kind of thing Italians do not like," journalist Gianluca Ursini told BBC Radio 5 Live.

606: DEBATE Will Mourinho be a success at Inter Milan?

"But the Italians were in love with him - they were conquered by someone being so self-confident."

When he declared himself in similar fashion at Stamford Bridge, many were waiting for the man from Setubal to fall flat on his face - but he never did.

What followed were two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup triumph.

The only major honour missing off his CV at Chelsea was the Champions League crown.

His failure to land the Holy Grail of club football during his spell with the Blues, coupled with the reported "falling out" with club owner Roman Abramovich, was probably what led to his Chelsea departure in September 2007.

The 45-year-old is under just as much pressure to deliver in his new role.

"I don't expect him to bring us the Champions League in his first year. Within three years? Yes," Inter managing director Ernesto Paolillo told BBC Sport at the club's centenary celebrations in central London.

MOURINHO'S MAJOR TITLES Porto (2002-2004): Championship (3), Cups (2), Uefa Cup (2003), Champions League (2004) Chelsea (2004-2007): Premier League (2), League Cup (2), FA Cup (1)

"We contacted Mourinho immediately after the defeat to Liverpool in March when Mancini told the media he had the intention to leave the team the end of the season," added Paolillo.

Although Mancini's declaration is given as the reason for his departure, failing to win the Champions League with the one of the most expensive squads in Italy is believed to be a massive part of the story.

Oil tycoon Moratti is in a similar league to Abramovich when it comes to bankrolling, and he is certainly as ruthless when it comes to deciding what he wants for the club.

Moratti became the club's owner in 1995, following on from his father Angelo who held the reins at Inter during their golden period in the 1960s when they won three league titles and two European Cups.

But Moratti Jr is perceived to have fallen short of his father's achievements since taking over. Italian football expert James Richardson believes the 67-year-old may need to bite his tongue and allow Mourinho to run the show in order to emulate the success of the 60s.

"Moratti has owned Inter for more than 10 years and if anything he's not a strong enough leader," Richardson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He's prone to indulging his star players, sometimes at the cost of undermining the manager.

"The other thing he's done is assembled a team of advisors, made up of old Inter players, who all have their say on what should happen. Moratti has never had a single voice at the club - that's why Mourinho going there is significant.

"He's famously not a man who will let others take decisions. I imagine one of the first things he would have wanted clear is a clearout of the management structure."

There have already been some changes in that department, with three of Mourinho's backroom staff at Stamford Bridge joining him in Milan.

Moratti has asked me to be myself and to be Mourinho means to work in harmony with players, with the club and with the fans Jose Mourinho

The Portuguese manager hinted that he would like to bring some of his old Chelsea players to the San Siro, but tried to avoid being viewed as too predatory.

"Almost all of them (Chelsea players) want to work with me again in the future and the same goes for me," he said.

"It depends on whether Chelsea want to sell - there has got to be a relation between what one club wants and what another club wants to do.

"The president knows what I would like, but I am not discussing names with the press."

That does not stop the press from guessing though, and the names of midfielder Frank Lampard, striker Didier Drogba and defender Ricardo Carvalho have been strongly linked with move to Inter.

One player who will not be joining him is midfield general Michael Essien, who, according to the Ghanaian's agent, is happy at the Blues.

Mourinho already has a strong enough squad to mount a serious challenge in Europe, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dejan Stankovic and Patrick Vieira, to name just three, already at the club.

The present playing staff are already wary of the Mourinho effect, with goalkeeper Francesco Toldo wryly telling BBC Sport "I'm 36 now, all roles have to be respected" when asked what he thought about the departure of Mancini and the arrival of Mourinho.

In the past, Mourinho has shown great loyalty to players who show loyalty to him.

"I want to change the football philosophy of the team, this is my challenge," said Mourinho.

"Moratti has asked me to be myself and to be Mourinho means to work in harmony with players, with the club and with the fans."

If there is harmony all round and if Mourinho gets his way, then Moratti may see his dream realised.

"Mourinho made a few jokes and even used the Milanese word for 'moron' when asked for the third time about Frank Lampard coming to Italy," added Ursini

"He was not expected to be a nice guy but he was and the first impressions were good."