Mourinho says he will always respect Chelsea' fans even if they turn against him

Jose Mourinho is prepared to go from the Special One to the Hated One when he makes his much-anticipated return to Chelsea.

Now- Manchester United manager Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the first time since the sacking 10 months ago that ended his second spell in charge there.

Boss Mourinho claimed he does not care what kind of reaction he receives when United visit his old stomping ground, but said he would understand if he was the target of abuse for 90 minutes from fans who once idolised him.

"To say I care is not true," he said. "To be honest, when I go to a match, I'm not focused on that. I'm more focused on the game.

"I try to prepare myself for the match, so I cannot say that I care.

"What can I expect? I don't know.

"They can think about me and remember our great relation and have a good reaction. Or they can look at me and say, 'For 90 minutes he is Manchester United manager and he's playing against us, so he's not someone we like at this moment.'

"They [Chelsea fans] gave me their love and gave me their support. If, now, I go there as United manager and they decide to have a different approach, I will always respect them.

"It doesn't matter what's going to happen.

"But it's my job. It's my new club and on Sunday I will go there to try and do my job."

The 53-year-old, who has been the opposing manager at the Bridge before, with Inter Milan in 2010, said he always knew he would have to return to Chelsea — however uncomfortable it might be.

"I knew that, working in England and staying in the Premier League, sooner or later I had to play against Chelsea and go to Stamford Bridge," said Mourinho.

"The computer has decided it's to go now, so here we go."