Cracking Champions League Must Be More Important to Chelsea Than Cracking Asia

We've seen a different Jose Mourinho in his second spell as Chelsea manager.

The Portuguese is more mature for one. He's also improved his ability to negotiate his way through the political minefield that is modern football management.

Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge came to a premature end after a very public spat between him and owner Roman Abramovich.

There was only going to be one winner when the shots were fired, and the better part of a decade on, Mourinho is willing to play the game a bit more. He's learned his lesson.

"That’s modern football," he recently said when asked about Chelsea's rumoured interest in Japanese sensation Yoshinori Muto.

Chelsea have recently signed a multimillion-pound shirt sponsorship deal with Japanese tyre company Yokohama, which kicks in next season. Not long after that was announced, Muto was being linked with the club.

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

Are Chelsea genuinely interested in the player's talents or is Mourinho having Muto forced on him for commercial gains?

"That’s modern management," he continued. "So there is something that in modern management you cannot close completely the door to a little bit of commercial interests."

They were words Mourinho would never have spoken before—an acceptance almost that Muto may well be the beginning of a new strategy when it comes to bringing players to west London.

When Mourinho first arrived at Chelsea, he was a man on a mission to make the club a big name in Europe. It wasn't about marquee signings—it had more to do with the club achieving their goals. Didier Drogba became a global name at Stamford Bridge, yet the Ivorian was far from being one prior to his signing. It was the same with Petr Cech, Michael Essien and a host of others.

Mourinho succeeded in transforming Chelsea, and despite all that has passed since, he can't let that objective escape him again.

ALASTAIR GRANT/Associated Press

He need only remember that the trouble arrived at his door when established stars such as Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko were added to the squad—players of international renown who would boost shirt sales.

This is why his warning about Muto was encouraging.

"At the same time, a football club is always a football club," he explained. "And a top football club only has space for very good players or at least very good prospects."

The commercial side of football is as vital now as it ever has been. Winning trophies is equally vital, and that in turn brings even more riches with them.

Chelsea know this better than most given how they've turned their fortunes around, going from a club haemorrhaging money to one now operating a profit. That change has come on the back of shrewd business deals and player management, but the catalyst has been Premier League and UEFA Champions League success.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Every brand wants to be connected with winners—it gives off the right image, and as Chelsea have become serial trophy contenders, their market value has increased.

It stands to reason that signing players for local gains will help clubs crack certain markets, but winning competitions is the biggest draw for fans.

Muto may well help Chelsea in Asia during the length of his contract, but that tactic suggests those fans who arrive on the back of his signing will depart just as quickly.

Where's the longevity?

Chelsea's slogan on recent pre-season tours has been, "Here to play, here to stay." Their best route to following through on that proposed legacy is the Champions League. It always will be.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Phase 1 of Mourinho's rebuilding project is almost complete. Chelsea have the Capital One Cup wrapped up, and with just two more wins required, they could have the Premier League trophy back at Stamford Bridge before the month's out.

The next step is regaining the Champions League and, from there, sustaining success on the continent.

That's the final frontier of the Abramovich reign at Chelsea. Under the Russian's ownership, they've achieved everything else.

It's what the focus should be, especially after a disappointing campaign that saw Chelsea regress this season, being knocked out in the last 16 by the same Paris Saint-Germain side that surrendered so meekly to Barcelona this week.

Crack the Champions League and it'll be much more than Asia that comes with it.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.