Jose Mourinho: Chelsea fans hold no grudges against former manager after he takes Manchester United job

Mourinho has agreed a deal to become Manchester United manager just five months after he was sacked by Chelsea

Jose Mourinho celebrates winning the Premier League title with Chelsea, eight months before he was sacked by the club (Getty)

Chelsea fans will be “eternally grateful” to Jose Mourinho despite him taking the vacant manager’s job at Manchester United, according to the Chairman of the Chelsea Supporters Trust.

Mouirnho agreed on Thursday to succeed Louis van Gaal as United manager after meeting with the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, little over five months after being sacked by the Blues. While the club is yet to confirm the appointment, the Independent understands that a contract has been signed to ensure Mourinho will be in the Old Trafford dugout next season.

Mourinho was axed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in December last year after making a dreadful start to their ill-fated Premier League title defence, though his dismissal still came as a huge surprise given the Portuguese had guided the team to the title just eight months before he was sacked.

Many fans at Stamford Bridge sided with Mourinho after his exit and turned on the players, with Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas receiving the brunt of the criticism from the stands with claims of deliberately underperforming.

The support for Mourinho appears to have continued, too, even though he will return to Stamford Bridge with a United badge in his blazer rather than a Chelsea one, as Chelsea Supporters Trust chairman Tim Rolls admitted that while Mourinho’s plans do not bother the Blues fans, they will always remember what he has done for the club during two spells from 2004 to 2007 and 2013 until last year.

"The Chelsea supporters I have spoken to are focusing on Antonio Conte and the preparations for next season, particularly new signings,” Rolls told the Evening Standard.

"Bouncing back from this season's dismal showing is the priority.

"Jose Mourinho taking the United job is not of real concern, although he will obviously be eternally respected by Chelsea supporters for the job he did and the trophies he won.

"Having said that, it will certainly add further spice to the Chelsea v United games next season."

Chelsea will find out when Mourinho will pay them a visit when the Premier League fixtures are announced on 15 June.