Chelsea Cannot Afford Any Delay in Completing New Contract for Jose Mourinho

As the dogs of the Premier League continue to bark and the caravan goes by, Chelsea fans will be hoping it's Jose Mourinho who is driving their favoured mode of transport for the foreseeable future.

Reports of a potential contract extension for the Chelsea boss emerged this week, and it's high time the club made those rumours fact.

Chelsea are champions, England's No. 1 team, and for all the might they have in their squad, the vital ingredient has been Mourinho.

Two years ago, Chelsea were in turmoil. There was revolt on the terraces as fans demonstrated against interim manager Rafa Benitez.

The Blues had scraped into the Champions League by finishing third behind Manchester United and City but were still reeling from a feeble defence of their European title.

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Indeed, Chelsea are the first and only winners of Europe's premier club competition to defend their title so meekly, being knocked out at the group stages.

Winning the Europa League papered over the cracks, yet it was clear the club was at a crossroads.

Years of managerial changes and high player turnover were having their effect. As those around them grew stronger, Chelsea were risking falling behind.

With Benitez departing, whoever he identified as the new manager was going to be Roman Abramovich's biggest appointment as Chelsea owner.

Chelsea needed a man of strong principles, a man of substance who could ruthlessly re-energise the club.

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They got him. They got Mourinho.

Now he's delivered on everything that's been asked of him—restoring Chelsea's position at the top, adding stability—it's about the next step for the Chelsea manager and the club.

Chelsea need to instil a culture that will serve them beyond this decade and even the next. They have one already that is focused on winning, yet there needs to be more if this club are going to truly reign in the way Abramovich craves.

It's about bringing through those talented youngsters who have won four FA Youth Cups in six seasons, adding the UEFA Youth League to the trophy cabinet this year; it's about laying a foundation for Chelsea to achieve the lofty status the club want.

When Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013, he didn't speak in the past tense. Everything he had achieved in that celebrated first stint was history; he was about achieving more.

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The message was simple: it was the year dot, and it was only the future that mattered.

In that sense, 2015/16 needs to bring about the same philosophy. It's about pressing the reset button, going back to the principles that made Chelsea champions of England.

Now to the next challenge, the final frontier if you like.

Chelsea have done it all on Abramovich's watch. There isn't a major honour they haven't claimed in English and European football.

Now they're in the business of dynasties, and to do that, they need a manager with all the same qualities they were looking for two years ago.

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They need Mourinho more than ever.

Talk of his contract extension shouldn't be a result of winning the Premier League again but more of how he did it.

Mourinho's reputation is such that he is more a mercenary of management than a man capable of building something that lasts.

He's been on a magical tour of Europe, taking in Porto, London, Milan and Madrid. He may be back in London for a second helping, but the reputation follows him.

Yet look at his first stint at Stamford Bridge—Chelsea were still winning titles with his players long after Mourinho had departed.

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And when the spine of Mourinho's Chelsea grew old, it's Mourinho who has been called back in to strengthen it.

That's still not the point, though.

Since his return, Chelsea have a lower net spend on transfers than Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and Arsenal, yet in doing so have usurped them all.

The average age of the squad has been reduced significantly and a balance has returned.

Chelsea are strong again, looking a daunting proposition. So many factors have played their part on making that happen, although the man who has brought it all together is Mourinho.

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He's doing what he did a decade ago, only his first spell ended too prematurely. Chelsea can't allow those same mistakes to be made again—their future rests on it.

Chelsea acted fast last summer to strengthen their playing squad. They should act even quicker with Mourinho.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes