Breaking News: Mourinho ‘Set For Chelsea Comeback’
SOURCE: Daily Mail
Chelsea have started the process of
negotiation with Jose Mourinho about his potential availability in the
summer and his desire to return to Stamford Bridge.
It
is tentative at this stage but contact has been made and Roman
Abramovich is interested in enticing the Real Madrid manager back to
London.
Mourinho looks
increasingly likely to part company with Real, who lost to Granada on
Saturday and fell 15 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Chelsea’s results are also lurching
from bad to worse under interim boss Rafa Benitez and despite some
reservations, the temptation to bring back his most successful manager
is growing for Abramovich.
The Blues are still third in the Premier League table despite conceding more late goals and losing 3-2 at Newcastle.
The
defeat allowed the chasing pack to close and the owner will not
tolerate missing out on the Champions League. Whether an emotional
reunion has the same pull for Mourinho is questionable and he will be
influenced by the degree of control the Russian would be willing to
afford him.
The influence of
managers over recruitment and team-building has been eroded since he
left Stamford Bridge in September 2007 and would be central to any
negotiations.
The
relationship between Abramovich and Mourinho has thawed since their
acrimonious split, yet it would be a huge concession if the Chelsea
owner were to let his next manager lead a team-building programme.
Abramovich felt Mourinho had become too powerful when he was sacked.
The
other major factor is Paris Saint-Germain, a project which appeals to
Mourinho, although sources in Italy suggest Carlo Ancelotti will be
granted at least one more year at the helm.
Benitez
blamed Chelsea’s first defeat in six games at St James’ Park on his
side’s lack of experience. Yet his back five of Petr Cech, Branislav
Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole, have more than 1,300
Premier League games between them and they had a youthful Frank Lampard
running round in his 507th game, scoring his 197th goal for the European
champions.
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