All change at Chelsea in the Jose revolution

A few Premiership managers may feel the same this season if he dismisses them as coldly as he did Ranieri yesterday.

ALOOFNESS v APPROACHABILITY

Here's the odd thing. Ranieri's public image was always that of a loveable, clubbable figure yet some of his players did not find him the easiest to approach with their concerns.

Conversely, Mourinho's arrogant streak in public conceals a passionate determination to be everyone's mate. His players rave about him. "I'm a very communicative person and will be very open with them," he said yesterday.

"I like to receive feedback about my work and I love this openness. It's very important to know how they feel working under me."

Speaking five languages in a multinational squad helps. Er, but woe betide anyone who crosses him. In whatever language.

LARGE SQUAD v SMALL SQUAD

Effectively, Chelsea's squad is 34-strong if you count their players who have been on loan and those about to join. Ranieri never complained but it is certainly too many for Mourinho.

"A big squad cannot work well," he insisted. "I need small groups, I need everybody to be motivated. When you have a big box of oranges and one of them is sick, a month later you will have 10 oranges to send to the garbage." For a bloke who evidently sees himself as father figure to his side, it's easier to keep close tabs on 24 rather than 34. A cull is inevitable.

COACH v COACH/MANAGER

This could prove a key difference. Ranieri appeared to see himself as just a coach whose duties stretched no further than matches and the training field. It is no accident Mourinho's titles are coach AND manager.

He wants to be involved in everything, and, by all accounts in Portugal, has an amazing capacity to attend to the slightest details.

There's a hint of the trainspotter about Mourinho, evident from his schooldays when legend has it he'd name dogs after footballers and try to line them up in a 4-4-2 formation!

He is zealous about pursuing that extra edge for his side, anything from US-style motivation techniques - "My philosophy is guidance and discovery," he says - to making players pore over home videos of their own displays.

POODLE v ROTTWEILER

Mourinho smiled yesterday when he said, "I don't have to control Roman, he has to control me" - and it's probably no joke. The impression during Ranieri's reign was of a manager having big signings foisted upon him, whether he really fancied them or not.

You have to wonder whether Abramovich appreciates just how determined Mourinho will be to run his own show. There is a famous story of Mourinho at Uniao Leiria when he ordered his chairman to leave the training ground during a practice session and, despite a battle of wills, got his own way. There may come a point when he'll have to be just as single-minded and stubborn with Abramovich - and there's no guarantee he'll win this time.

TINKERMAN v MR MOTIVATOR

Both have built their sides on platforms of organisation and miserly defences, yet Mourinho's Porto mastered the art of stopping other teams playing more completely than Ranieri's Chelsea ever did.

It was never pretty - don't expect thrills a minute with his Chelsea - but was always efficient. Mourinho also doesn't believe you need to rotate when "in the modern game, the best way for players to keep in good shape is to play".

Ultimately, though, the difference between a winning coach and a nearly-man could be down to that rare ability to make them believe. "He really is special in that area," Porto keeper Vitor Baia was quoted as saying recently. We know, Vitor. The man told us so himself.