Last supper: Jose Mourinho had Christmas dinner with Chelsea players before sacking

A number of Jose Mourinho's staff have also left, although Steve Holland (right) remains

 

JOSE MOURINHO joined his players and staff for Christmas lunch at their training ground just moments before he was sacked.

 

Mourinho was dismissed with last season's Premier League champions sitting just one point above the relegation zone in 16th place.

And although Chelsea have already recorded 11 defeats in all competitions this season, it was the breakdown of the relationship with the players that finally did for the Portuguese boss.

However according to The Mirror, he was allowed one final meal with his colleagues at their Cobham training facility in Surrey.

 

But at 2pm, Mourinho was told in a ten-minute meeting with chairman Bruce Buck and fellow director Eugene Tenenbaum that his second spell at Chelsea was over.

Chelsea are yet to announce a successor, but Guus Hiddink has been installed as a heavy favourite.

Hiddink has previously acted as interim manager at Chelsea, having presided over the team in 2009 when Luiz Felipe Scolari left the club.

 

But technical director Michael Emenalo was unable to confirm the identity of the new boss, suggesting that the current coaching team will take the team at least on Saturday when they host Sunderland.

The Blues next fixture after that is also at Stamford Bridge, a London derby against Watford, and Chelsea will certainly hope to have the new man installed by then.