Blues owner Roman Abramovich is set to
decide on the Portuguese's future during the
international break amid an awful run of results
and a dressing-room mutiny
By Greg Stobart
Jose Mourinho's second spell as Chelsea
manager is almost over with a dressing room
revolt likely to be the final straw as owner
Roman Abramovich considers sacking the most
popular coach in the club's history.
Goal understands that Abramovich will make a
decision on Mourinho's future during the two-
week international break and has been actively
making contact with potential replacements.
Abramovich's key consideration is expected to
focus on whether he thinks Mourinho can guide
Chelsea to a top-four finish this season, with
last season's champions already 13 points off
the Champions League spots.
ON THE BRINK | CHELSEA TO REVIEW
MOURINHO'S POSITION
It seems highly unlikely that the Blues will
qualify for Europe's premier club competition
while the players are so unhappy with the
manager. Sources say that only "a handful" of
first-team players remain behind Mourinho.
Mourinho's public and private criticism of
individual players is at the heart of their
dissatisfaction, with many believing they have
been unfairly singled out while the Portuguese
protects his "favourites".
Eden Hazard, Oscar and Nemanja Matic are
among the more disillusioned Blues players
while sources say the dressing room has badly
missed the influence of departed senior players
such as Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and Frank
Lampard.
Captain John Terry is understood to remain
fully supportive of Mourinho but the 34-year-old
no longer carries the influence he once did.
Patience with Mourinho is now at breaking point
in the Stamford Bridge boardroom and the 52-
year-old will only survive if Abramovich is
unable to appoint a quality replacement mid-
season.
Leading candidates such as Pep Guardiola and
Diego Simeone will not be available until next
summer so Chelsea would have to appoint an
interim manager until the end of the season.
The Blues' 1-0 defeat by Stoke on Saturday
meant they have now lost seven of their 12
Premier League matches this season and sit
fifth from bottom in the table.
Mourinho was given a rare public vote of
confidence in October following the home defeat
to Southampton, but it came with the caveat
that "results have not been good enough and
the team's performances must improve".
The west London club have lost three of their
four subsequent league fixtures - their one win
coming against bottom side Aston Villa - and
have been knocked out of the League Cup.
Chelsea's hierarchy have also been stunned by
the extent to which Mourinho appears to have
unravelled off the pitch, with constant outbursts
against referees and hints towards a
conspiracy at the Football Association.
The 52-year-old was forced to watch his side's
defeat to Stoke from his hotel room after
receiving a stadium ban for confronting referee
Jon Moss during the 2-1 loss at West Ham last
month.
His conduct has been received badly in the
boardroom where senior figures are concerned
about the damage being done to the club's
image worldwide.
The Portuguese's public axing of club doctor
Eva Carneiro was a public relations disaster and
also angered several players as she was a
popular member of the backroom staff.
Posted by: Philip Ochika
