Through all the ups and through all the downs, Jose Mourinho has never really been this low before.
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With the majority of Mourinho’s coaching staff departing along with the Portuguese boss, that has left first-team assistant Steve Holland and former Chelsea player Eddie Newton to pick the starting line-up against Sunderland.
“During his career, José has sometimes chosen to leave a club, but only at Chelsea has the club decided that he should leave”.
Garry Monk was sacked on December 9 as the Swans struggled, hovering just above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
“Boosting corporate hospitality income is a key part of the club’s plans for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge”, he added. Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world but is not where it should be at the moment.
After FFA triumphantly staged – and the Socceroos won – the Asian Cup early this year, the governing body has waded through turbulent waters, most notably a dispute with the players over pay and conditions and a dispute with supporters that boiled over into crowd boycotts at A-League games.
This season is a different story.
However, Sunderland face an ominous run of fixtures – starting with today’s visit to Chelsea – with Manchester City (twice), Liverpool and Spurs all included in the upcoming eight Premier League outings.
But if results don’t improve quickly under Mourinho’s replacement it will be harder to reject the idea that the west London team are in deep trouble.
Mourinho has found success everywhere over the last dozen years, winning the Champions League with both Porto in 2004 and with Inter Milan in 2010.
Madrid have failed to win the league since Mourinho left.
Overall, Mourinho has won 21 major trophies.
Only seven months ago, the Chelsea manager was riding high on the back of the Premier League title triumph, which was achieved with three games to go.
“We are ready to work together again”.
In his captain’s notes, the defender wrote: “We are aware there have been rumours of player power at the club but I want to make it clear that is not the case”. “I am the happy one”.
“Whether people like him or not, he creates emotions in the people”.
Speculation soon gathered pace that Chelsea would turn to Hiddink at least until the end of the season.
Chelsea last month announced it had made a loss of £23.1 million (31.7 million euros, $34.4 million) last season.
Hiddink would appear to be Chelsea’s preferred caretaker appointment while the likes of Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte are reported to be potential long-term successors to Mourinho.
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The calibre of clubs linked to Mourinho shows his reputation has not been severely tarnished by the Chelsea meltdown.
