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Mourinho: All Chelsea players want to join me

03/06/2008

Jose Mourinho has claimed many of his former Chelsea players would be keen to join him at Inter Milan.

The Portuguese was installed at the San Siro on Tuesday morning after agreeing a three-year contract with the Serie A champions and was quick to fuel speculation that his former Stamford Bridge charges may join him in Italy.

While he did not mention any Chelsea players directly - though midfielder Frank Lampard and striker Didier Drogba were linked with moves to the Nerazzuri prior to their ex-manager's appointment - Mourinho said he could understand if his former players wanted to move to Inter.

"I think it is normal as a consequence of the relationship with my players," he told a press conference.

"Almost all of them want to work with me again in the future and the same goes for me.

"I have a great relationship with almost all of my players and it is normal that these rumours spread.

"But 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 45-year-old, who won consecutive league titles with Chelsea, said he wants to sign "one, or two, maximum three new players" before the new Serie A season.

Speaking mostly in Italian, Mourinho shied away from his former self-imposed tag as 'the special one'.

"I have arrived to a special club and I believe I am a great coach but I don't want to be special," he said.

"I am Mourinho - period. I don't change. I'm the same person as before."

He added: "For me this is a very important challenge but I believe that it could be very enjoyable also for you [the media]."