"The meaning of being the best is winning the UEFA Champions League," says Jose Mourinho.
And if anyone should know, it’s the Portuguese who occupies an exclusive group of coaches to have lifted football’s leading club competition with more than one team.
The two-time winner shocked the world when he took FC Porto to the title in 2004, and six years later he led Inter to a historic treble by defeating Bayern Munich in Madrid.
Mourinho has seen it all.
"I have experienced everything in the UEFA Champions League," he says. "Not winning the competition because of a penalty shootout is hard and you feel it forever.
"The comebacks… matches sometimes go in crazy directions because people play with everything they have."
And he is looking forward to seeing more history created in this year’s final back at his old home, Porto, which will see the UEFA Champions League welcome fans back to the stands.
"I truly believe in the power of the fans," he says. "They don’t [just] support, they play!"
They will play their part as a new legend is written on May 29 when Chelsea meet Manchester City in Portugal.
A ball can start something priceless.