Jose Mourinho has long been the darling of Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge, but that could well change with the Portuguese taking charge of rivals Manchester United.
Mourinho and Chelsea share a special history. The Portuguese manager arrived at Chelsea in 2004 fresh off winning the Champions League with Porto and immediately handed them their first top-tier domestic title in 50 years in record-breaking fashion.
His second stint at Stamford Bridge began in 2013 and soon led to glory as the Blues won the 2014-15 Premier League title. However, he parted ways with Chelsea the very next season after an abysmal run of form that saw the Blues hovering just above the relegation zone.
Although Mourinho hasn’t directly jumped ship from Chelsea to United, the move does hit a raw nerve with many fans who had so far idolized Chelsea’s most successful manager.
Mourinho: United has a mystique and romance no other club can match.
Chelsea fans: pic.twitter.com/2mXXa4TXFh
— Yomi Kazeem (@TheYomiKazeem) May 27, 2016
“No other club can match” part wasn’t really needed Jose.
— WeAreChelseaFC (@WeAreChelseaFC) May 27, 2016
If you are a Chelsea (Mourinho) fan and you are trying to defend Jose’s move to United, then give up. It cannot be justified.
— Md. (@TalkOfFutbol) May 26, 2016
I have been cheated in a relationship and even that didn’t hurt as bad as Mourinho joining ManUtd.
— Chaitanya (@Chaitanya_13) May 27, 2016
That “One of us” banner has to go.
— losriley (@losriley) May 27, 2016
If you’re a Chelsea fan wishing Mourinho well at United, you’re not a Chelsea fan.
— Cookie monster (@CescOffender) May 27, 2016
Jose Mourinho is a traitor. I’ll keep on saying it. He once said his blood is blue, that ChelseaFC is family.
— AkanSamuel (@akansamuel9) May 27, 2016
However, Mourinho’s legacy at Chelsea is something which cannot be forgotten.
3 PL titles. 8 trophies in 5 years. And all they remember of him is ‘selling’ Lukaku/De Bruyne. What a fucking joke. pic.twitter.com/PLbYZ17Jss
— Mourinholic (@Mourinholic) April 12, 2016
The anguish of the Chelsea fans was soon transformed into nutritious fodder for the beast known as internet comedy.
“There’s a certain mystique and romance about Manchester United that no other club can match”@ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/qtQziGQ41K
— Match Photography (@MatchPhotos) May 27, 2016
“There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match.”
Chelsea fans right now pic.twitter.com/WxCnwzvY32
— Spyro The Bandicoot (@Kashief_9006) May 27, 2016
Mourinho bathing in Chelsea fan tears https://t.co/IZiCjxqwqD
— #CarefreeDaily (@CarefreeDaily) May 27, 2016