Jose Mourinho expressed sadness for Chelsea's players and supporters after his Inter Milan team knocked them out of the Champions League in the first knockout round.

But the Portuguese, returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time as an opposition manager, said his overall happiness at progressing with Inter overrode these emotions.

"I am very, very happy because we won and because we were the best team," the 47-year-old said.

After the match Mourinho drew attention to what many see as Chelsea's cursed recent history in the Champions League.

"This is a team that lost a semi-final to Liverpool with a goal that was not a goal, lost a semi-final to Liverpool on penalties, lost a final to Manchester United on penalties and lost a semi-final to Barcelona in a game that they should have won 3-0 with three penalties," he said.

On last night's win he continued: "Sometimes you win because you are lucky, sometimes you win because something happened during the game that made the ball go to one side and not the other, and sometimes because you are the best team.

"Sometimes you win because you are the best team from the first minute to the last and that is the perfect game. And that team was my team so I am very happy for them, very happy for the Inter supporters and very happy for myself because I worked so much to prepare this game."

Before the match Mourinho had made a point of shaking hands with the Chelsea players as they made their way on to the pitch, with the players reacting warmly to the gesture.

"I am not happy because my ex-players lost, I am not happy because Roman [Abramovich] lost, I am not happy because Chelsea supporters go home sad. I am happy with our happiness, not with their unhappiness.

"Yesterday I exchanged a few SMS with John Terry I told him tomorrow somebody will be sad, but that's life.

"Possibly I am no longer so special for Chelsea supporters who will probably never forgive me."