No matter what happened towards the end of his tenure at Manchester United, it's impossible to argue that Jose Mourinho isn't a top manager. Along with United, he's managed some of the other biggest clubs in Europe, including Inter Milan and Real Madrid. But before he did all that, 'The Special One' arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004, fresh of the back of winning the Champions League with Porto.Mourinho became an instant hit in the Premier League, winning back-to-back titles with Chelsea on his way to establishing himself as one of the best in the world. Despite dominating on the domestic front, under their Portuguese boss, they failed to deliver what Roman Abramovich craved - Europe's top prize. But, in Jose's first season in London, they came close. The Blues were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool's "ghost goal" - but despite falling short, Chelsea did beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich en route to the last four. And from that quarter-final tie against Bayern came one of football's most infamous stories - involving Mourinho and a laundry basket. 

THE LAUNDRY BASKET TALE

The Chelsea boss was serving a touchline ban for the two legs against Bayern, for allegations he made against the referee and Barca boss Frank Rijkaard in the round before.

The ban meant he wasn't even allowed to enter either stadium - and shouldn't have been anywhere near Stamford Bridge or the Olympiastadion.

However, being a man that's desperate to win at all costs, the story goes that Mourinho entered Chelsea's dressing room in a laundry basket during the home leg, to give his team the talk they needed pre-match. 

For 15 years, this story was never actually proven - it has been reported multiple times and it's very well known - but no source has ever actually confirmed it.

That's until now. Because during his appearance as a pundit on beIN Sports, Mourinho himself finally revealled that the story is true - and he's even given some more brilliant details about it.   

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

"The fundamental thing of it was Chelsea versus Bayern Munich, a big match in the Champions League. I need to be with my players, and I did it yeah," he revealed on beIN Sports.

"I go to the dressing room during the day, so I was there. I'm there since midday, and the game isn't until seven o'clock.

"I just wanted to be in the dressing room for when the players arrive. So I go there, and nobody sees me."

At that point, it sounds like all is going well - however, things got complicated when Mourinho wanted to leave the dressing room afterward. 

THE GREAT ESCAPE

"The problem was to leave after. Stuart (the kitman) put me in the basket, a big metal one, and I got in with a little bit left open so I could breathe," he continued. 

"But when Stuart is taking it outside the dressing room, the UEFA guys were following him. They were desperate to find me, so Stuart closed the box. I couldn't breathe!

"When he opened the box I was dying! I'm serious, I was claustrophobic, I promise you."

Brilliant. The story is pure gold - and it sounds even better coming from Mourinho himself.

His masterplan worked too, as Chelsea won that tie against Bayern all those years ago thanks to an impressive first-leg win at Stamford Bridge.