The Blues have been struggling this season and recently slumped to their fifth defeat of the league campaign away to West Ham, leaving the reigning champions 15th in the Premier League standings.
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Talk has been rife of the Portuguese being not far from the sack ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Stoke in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup – another trophy Chelsea won under Mourinho last season.
While the club issued a public vote of confidence in their manager earlier this month, their continuing sinking fortunes have sparked rumors that his position is now coming under renewed consideration. At present they are fifteenth in the Premier League table.
Mourinho has just been fined £50,000 and given a suspended one match stadium ban which is likely to be invoked after his meltdown during Chelsea’s defeat at Upton Park.
Nemanja Matic is unavailable for Chelsea after his red card in the defeat to West Ham.
If Begovic plays, it would mark his first return to Stoke since his summer switch. “We’ll be better on Tuesday”, the 51-year-old Welshman added.
Jose Mourinho was taunted by West Ham players over his latest referee bust-up.
Cameron moved into the heart of defense to cover for injured skipper Ryan Shawcross, who is now expected to make a Tuesday return while the American recovers.
If the former Manchester United center-back does feature, he will be one of the few changes made to the lineup, though, according to Hughes.
“We want to play again as soon as possible, because we need to win a few games and so the match against Stoke comes at a good time”, he told Chelsea’s official website.
“Chelsea have quality right throughout the club that will enable them to come through this moment I’m sure”.
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“Had we been playing against a side in the Championship or lower then that may have altered my thinking, but we have to be strong because Chelsea, for all of their difficulties at the moment, are a top side. We have all done that from time to time”.
