Revealed: Mourinho begged Abramovich not to replace him with Guardiola after being sacked

Jose Mourinho reportedly made Roman Abramovich promise not to hire Pep Guardiola

 

JOSE MOURINHO requested one thing from Roman Abramovich after being sacked yesterday, according to sensational reports in Spain.

 

The Portuguese was dismissed by the Blues for a second time as the title-winning side crumbled to 16th in the table.

Chelsea lost 2-1 to Leicester on Monday and Mourinho admitted a place in the top four was no longer possible.

Guus Hiddink is in line to take over until the end of the season and is in London today for talks with Roman Abramovich.

 

And, according to reports in Spain from Don Balon, Mourinho made Abramovich promise not to hire Pep Guardiola as his replacement.

The report suggests Mourinho sees Chelsea as his home and doesn't want to see his arch nemesis on his bench.

Guardiola is the bookmakers' favourite to take the job at the end of the season - with Ladbrokes pricing him at 2/1 - despite also being linked with the Manchester City and Manchester United role.

Today Guardiola confirmed he had made his mind up on his future and will reveal all at the weekend.

 

An official announcement is expected after Saturday’s Bundesliga game at Hannover but Guardiola admitted today he has made up his mind and the club chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, has been informed.

“Kalle knows absolutely everything,” Guardiola said.

“The club, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and I have said time and time again that we will say something after our final game in Hannover, and that’s how things are going to stay.

"I’m just focusing on Hannover. I’ve been watching their games.”

However this report would suggest his destination will not be west London with Manchester more likely.

 

Manuel Pellegrini however insisted he had nothing to worry about regarding his future.

“Absolutely not. I am not concerned about that," he said when asked about the Guardiola circus. 

"The only concern that I can have in my profession is to try to win the next game and to win the Premier League.

"That would be very successful, in three years, to win two Premier League titles and be runner-up  once. Those are things that maybe I can worry about, not about speculation or rumour.”