JOSE MOURINHO’s fourth return to Chelsea as an away manager proved he is not only a man of great stature and aura, but one full of class and dignity.
Journalists and club officials eagerly awaited his arrival in the Drake Suite at Stamford Bridge, a large room with five pictures of title-winning Chelsea managers plastered on the walls, of which three of them, of course, were of Mourinho.
The newly-appointed Benfica boss beamed as he entered the room, scanning around and seeing a few familiar faces from his time at the club, which has now been almost entirely transitioned.
But one stalwart, one legend, has outlasted almost all – that is Thresa Conneely.
Conneely has been at Chelsea for over 48 years and is the club’s second-longest serving staff member behind executive assistant Jane Fitzgerald.
And she was even pictured at the Blues’ staff Christmas party on December 1, 1979.
The club’s website lists her as a ‘community champion’, and states: ‘She epitomises what it is to be a ‘family’ at the club, and works tirelessly to ensure media on matchdays go smoothly. Her work, as press and accreditation officer, ensures that Chelsea’s successes reach a wide audience.’
Thresa stood quietly to the side when ‘the Special One’ entered, before Mourinho charmed the media and Chelsea fans alike with his evident love for the club that made him ‘a better Jose’, and ‘always a blue’.
But when he left, and most cameras were off, the Portuguese manager showed a final touch of class.
He came over and individually shook hands with members of the media he recognised from his time in England, and said hello to those he didn’t, before posing for pictures and then spotting Thresa by the exit.
When he spotted her, he spread his arms as wide as possible – reminiscent of Jude Bellingham’s celebration – and embraced his old friend of so many years, with a friendly kiss on the forehead for one of the club’s most adored members.
Cheers and applause came from the media in the room, who knew this heartwarming moment was coming, before Mourinho made a swift exit down to the pitch, taking in being on the turf where he once celebrated league titles, and leading a training session for his players ahead of their Champions League face-off at Stamford Bridge tonight.
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