Chelsea Uncovered: Why Roman Abramovich does NOT want to sack Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea have won just one of their last seven matches

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH does not want to sack Jose Mourinho despite Chelsea being dumped out of the Capital One Cup.

 

Mourinho is unquestionably the best manager in Chelsea's history, with three league titles in five full seasons under his belt.

But his team have now won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions and pressure is mounting on the Portuguese - despite winning the title only five months ago.

Defeat to Liverpool on Saturday at Stamford Bridge could well spell the end for the Special One’s second spell in charge.

However if Blues owner Abramovich does choose to get rid of Mourinho there is a problem as the alternatives do not look that appealing. 

 

For those currently out of a job and available - Carlo Ancelotti, sacked in 2011, would take a considerable amount of persuading to return and a considerable financial incentive, and would probably only come next summer.

Guus Hiddink, who rescued them in 2009 after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked, is now 68, but has indicated he would be keen to fill in until the summer.

At that point, some of the long term targets would be available – namely Pep Guardiola, who turned Chelsea down in 2013, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone – or Ancelotti, should he be persuaded.

If Abramovich chooses to stick with Mourinho the key will be Chelsea finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League next season. Last season, Manchester United were fourth with 70 points.

 

Guss Hiddink has indicated he would be keen to return to Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti would take a lot of persuading to return to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea currently have 11 points, and have 28 matches left. That means they need 59 points from those games – an average of 2.1 points per game between now and the end of the season.

It is do-able right now – but too many more losses (Chelsea have already lost five times in the league this season) and Abramovich will act.

If Chelsea, who played well at Stoke but once again lacked the finishing touch, can beat Liverpool or draw, then it is likely that Mourinho will limp on.

All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge on Saturday. But that may well not be not be the end of the story.