Having become only the third manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, self-proclaimed ‘special one’ Jose Mourinho is eyeing a historic hat-trick as he takes the reigns at Real Madrid.

In just ten short years as a manager, Jose Mourinho has won an incredible 17 major trophies. Last season he led Inter Milan to the Champions League title, becoming only the third manager to win the trophy with two different teams – following his triumph as Porto boss in 2002. That 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in May also completed an incredible treble of honours in 2010 for the Italian club and proved a fitting farewell for Mourinho, who was soon packing his bags for a new challenge at Real Madrid. The Spanish behemoths have been European champions nine times before, but haven’t lifted the biggest title in club football since 2002. So will the self proclaimed “Special One” be the man to finally bring the glory days back to the Bernabeu?

Q: Do you expect to win titles in your first year at Real, or could it wait until next year?

A: I’m fully aware that Real Madrid by nature wants to win everything in the first season. I like to have that pressure. I’m not one of those who makes excuses for what they don’t do, because they didn’t have the conditions or because they were still adapting. It won’t be easy. In the championship we’ve got Barcelona who are the best team at present, and in the Champions League there are Italian, English and German teams, as well as teams like Benfica who have shown that they want to return to the top of European football. I tend to say that the second year is one of maturity. It was the year when Porto became European champions, it was the year when Inter became European champions, it was the year when Chelsea won the Premier League more easily, with two Champions League semi-finals in a row. It’s in the second year when you get more maturity.

Q: At a club like Real, is it possible for you to go a year without winning a trophy?

A: Not one trophy; at least two trophies. In seven years, with the exception of when I left Chelsea in the autumn, I always won more than one trophy. I won three with Porto in my first year and another three in my second year, two with Chelsea in each of my three seasons, two at Inter in the first year and three last season. Even though I’m still a young coach, these 17 titles in three different leagues make me seem a veteran.

Q: Is there extra pressure to win the Champions League?

A: Real Madrid have the history, we all know. It was the most important club in the world as it celebrated its centenary. But it has gone two years without winning anything. It hasn’t reached a Champions League final in ten years, it hasn’t even got past the last 16 in seven or eight years. That may be normal for any ordinary club. But for a giant club it’s a difficult situation, almost dramatic. So we have to start winning now. 

Q: Even then, winning may not be enough at Real – you are expected to do it with style as well...

A: The coach has to adapt the style of play to the characteristics of the players. Real, with the players we have, has to be a team that plays good attackingfootball. To achieve that, we have to work together as a team, and that has always been a characteristic of my teams. 

Q: Cristiano Ronaldo said that Real already have some of the best players in the world and now, with the best coach in the world, can go far. Do you agree?

A: I’ve already achieved important things without the best players in the world. It’s the strength of the team that counts, the structure of the club and getting the fans behind you. All that brings success. This is the best club in the world with the best players, but that doesn’t win matches. There are opponents to take into account.

Since arriving at Real, have you been in any way surprised by Ronaldo’s quality?

A: There are few coaches I am friends with, but Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is one of them. He told me that the kid, as he called him, had an incredible work ethic. Having seen him, what I find impressive, for a player with his status, is that nobody works more than him. I had my experienced players at Inter who were older and who were good examples. Zanetti, Cordoba, Materazzi showed how it’s done. Here I’ve got Ronaldo and, with the way he works, it makes it easyto make demands of other players. As for his quality, he’s an amazing player. Physically and technically he’s absolutely impressive. Tactically I’m sure he’ll soon understand the game. He’s quick at solving problems.

Q: Have the signings you’ve made during the summer increased Real’s chances of winning the Champions League this year?

A: I’m happy with the signings. Up front we could have done with another striker. We only have Higuain and Benzema, although Ronaldo can play there ifneeded. I just have to hope none of them get injured. I think we are a candidate, but not the only candidates. There’s Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan – who have signed top attacking players – Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and others. The Champions League is a long tournament that depends on details and you need luck at certain times. I would love to become the first coach to win it with three different clubs.