José Mourinho has uttered his first words of dissent since leaving Chelsea by predicting that the club’s 67-match unbeaten home league record will soon come to an end. The Portuguese has been careful to stick to the party line of mutual consent after his departure last week, but suggested yesterday that he would be missed.

“The fans never left Stamford Bridge crying because we never lost,” Mourinho said. “We beat the record and the day they lose a match at home, they will remember that they were three years without losing a single league game there.”

Mourinho blamed Chelsea’s board for his downfall, saying that his achievements should have brought stability. “Here, the culture is not one of change,” he said. “Sir Alex Ferguson was at Manchester United a lot of years without winning titles and he continues. [Arsène] Wenger’s already in his third year without winning titles and continues in his work. If it were for the fans, I’d have a contract for 20 years and I’d continue working without any problem. Here, the culture is different. People like me and there is an excellent relationship.”

Sven-Göran Eriksson’s presence in close proximity to Roman Abramovich at Old Trafford on Sunday, for Chelsea’s match against United, predictably set tongues wagging. But the Swede said yesterday that he was fully committed to Manchester City. “They gave me a ticket, so I had to sit where I got told to sit,” he said.