The self-styled ‘Special One’ returned to London early last month for a second stint with the Blues after a remarkable trophy-laden spell between 2004 and 2007. The Portuguese tactician became the club’s most successful manager in history during his first spell in charge as he won the Premier League (twice), FA Cup, FA Community Shield and the League Cup (twice).

Amidst the bedlam and euphoria that surrounded Mourinho’s homecoming, one small doubt creeping in the minds of everyone associated with Chelsea was whether the 50-year-old would have the same appetite and hunger for success as before.

After leaving Chelsea with seven trophies to his name in 2007, he went on to manage Inter Milan and famously claimed the treble with the Italian club in the 2009-10 season. This was the first time any Italian club had achieved the treble and it meant Mourinho won the Champions League with two different clubs, the third man to do so at that time.

Real Madrid beckoned the following season, and although he could not fire Madrid to Champions League glory, he did break the Barcelona monopoly in Spain by winning the 2011-12 La Liga title in record fashion.

After achieving all there is to achieve in club football, there are doubts as to whether Mourinho retains that same motivation as before. However, one person who believes that Mourinho is as hungry as ever is current first-choice goalkeeper, Petr Cech.

According to London Evening Standard, Cech believes Jose Mourinho is still the same as when he first arrived at the Bridge and still has that burning desire to succeed. He said, “Jose Mourinho can’t be more hungry. He didn’t come back to enjoy his life. We are all here to try to prepare and to try to win things together.”

He added, “He’s the same (as before). The motivation is the same, the hunger for success is the same and you can see that the demand he has for the team is the same. He wants to be the best, we would like to be the best – let’s see if we can fulfil our expectations.”

One factor that might have influenced Cech’s thoughts is the fact that Mourinho was unable to win the Champions League in his first tenure – a trophy he sorely wants to win with Chelsea, who won it for the first time two years ago against Bayern Munich on penalties.