By Matt Barlow

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It was Jose Mourinho who mentioned his age with he arrived in Malaysia, explaining how he had turned 50 this year and it was time for him to take a different outlook on life.

Since then, he made a similar claim in a long and engaging interview, where he spoke about life-changing experiences.

The intensity and ambition are still burning away inside, of course, but the message from Mourinho is that he is something of a changed man.

Jovial Jose: Mourinho shares a joke with assistant Silvino Louro and Eden Hazard

Jovial Jose: Mourinho shares a joke with assistant Silvino Louro and Eden Hazard

It is as if he considers the whole circus at Real Madrid, the energy-sapping scrutiny and the eternal arm-wrestle with Barcelona, to be a natural close to the first part of his managerial career and his return to Chelsea is the second.

No longer is he required to prove himself a man obsessed with winning, still sprinting along in the fast-lane collecting more accolades and throwing them in a pile with everything he has won with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real in order to boast about his ability.

If you believe him, Part Two will be a different creation. He spoke of taking the young players at Stamford Bridge, tapping into their energy and enthusiasm and moulding them into something great.

He will stabilise this process with the veterans at his disposal, of course, and he will expect to win trophies but he is playing the long-game.

He is more mature, in search of a different challenge, ready to play the 'Godfather' of the Premier League managers after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

That's what he says and his manner on this pre-season tour of Asia seems to support it. Although, not everyone believes his spots can be changed so easily. Petr Cech mused that it might be best to wait until the season was underway before making any judgments.

Referees and FA officials may agree it would be best to remain circumspect. It is one thing to go wise-cracking your way around Asia as the preparation work goes on but quite another when the glare of competitive football returns.

Even Mellow Jose was unable to resist reminding everyone that he will be the only manager in the Barclays Premier League who has won the European Cup. And he has won it twice, of course. Win it with Chelsea and he will be the first man to take the title with three different clubs.

He has spoken on the importance of this tour to bond with his players and the manager's mood has been open and relaxed. It supports the opinion of his wife that Mourinho is a different man since his job switch.

The Madrid scowl has been cleansed from his face and he is enjoying his second coming.

Out of the dark: Mourinho's temper frayed easily at Real Madrid with the stress of battling Barcelona

Out of the dark: Mourinho's temper frayed easily at Real Madrid with the stress of battling Barcelona

In Bangkok, he broke off from a training drill to jest with one of the stadium staff who had ventured out with a lightning detector, a chunky electronic device for measuring the intensity of the storms which often broke during the evening training sessions.

'Is it a breathalyser?' Mourinho wanted to know. 'Can I use that thing to test for alcohol?'

Eden Hazard, having braced for the fearsome new manager, said the first few days had been great fun.

When Mourinho was asked if he would be prepared to cover himself in blue paint as the players did to promote the new adidas kit, Mourinho chuckled as he said: 'I will do most things for adidas but I will not do everything.'

Fun in the sun: Mourinho walked around Chelsea's training camp with a cone on his head

Fun in the sun: Mourinho walked around Chelsea's training camp with a cone on his head

He has been photographed with a cone on his head and even joked about questions on the club's pursuit of Wayne Rooney, which have been banned by the club.

'Ah, the forbidden word,' he smiled, when a Rooney question reared its head during an hour-long interview with the English newspapers on Friday, then he jokingly suggested the culprit should be made to stand in the corner of the room and face the wall for two minutes.

Those inside the camp agree it has been the theme of his first two weeks of pre-season training.

Friday night was the night for the newcomers to perform their initiation songs with Petr Cech on drums to accompany Mark Schwarzer's version of 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down'.

English football's new 'Godfather'? Or the Happy One as he has taken to calling himself?

The fascinating part is whether it will last once the adrenalin starts to rush.

Will it end? Whether Mourinho will be able to keep his cool is unknown

Will it end? Whether Mourinho will be able to keep his cool is unknown


The comments below have not been moderated.

Do not change just for the sake of change. Just be who you are. You are just fine with what you are. Irrespective of who you are, I like what I see thus far.

Ferguson changed his style and was less about the hairdryers and more about the 'arm around the shoulder', but the players still knew who was boss. The same here. He will still have his tantrums and will provide nuggets of gold over the season but that's what we all want.

Mourinho has surely changed and that might have been at the best of times. Chelsea will benefit from him, he will benefit from being loved once again. Mourinho seems to gel the team easily. To make players feel connected to each other and the team, to instill that winning mentality and to man manage seems to be his best tactics. We'll win the UCL trophy soon again. We'll win the BPL soon. We're going to be the team to beat. Chelsea Football Club seems to have a good future.

The best one, no doubt

The best one, no doubt

"Referees and FA officials may agree it would be best to remain circumspect" -------------------- There it is again. All the FA and the refs have to do is apply the same criteria for everyone under their remit. Instead, we get this sort of "the authorities will sort you out" nonsense for getting above yerselves:)

Jose's has clearly been told to keep a low profile. It's funny because the papers are just making stuff up instead.

bet someone farted

Mourinho might seem milder, but I am sure once the season starts this will change.

we are in desperate need of a quality presence in midfield. man city with toure and fernandinho will bully us otherwise. bring in someone like fellaini or de rossi and the league is ours for the taking.

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