Jose Mourinho Axe Reportedly Expected by 'Bemused' Chelsea Players

Chelsea stars are reportedly expecting manager Jose Mourinho to be relieved of his duties soon, as the dressing room becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Portuguese’s behaviour.

According to Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail, Mourinho used expletive language towards referee Jon Moss and refused to leave the official’s room during half-time of the Blues’ 2-1 loss to West Ham United on Saturday. Dave Kidd of the Daily Mirror claims with incidents like this mounting up, there is a festering sense of inevitability about Mourinho leaving the club among the playing staff:

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Dressing-room sources are adamant that there has been no rebellion against Mourinho—but there is an increasing bemusement at the behaviour of the Portuguese manager. …

While a handful of players have aired grievances about Mourinho, there is an insistence that the manager has not 'lost the dressing-room' and a feeling, in the words of one, that 'we just want our Jose back'. Yet there is a belief that Mourinho cannot currently lift himself to display his famed motivational powers.

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That’ll be a major concern for the Portuguese, who was charged for his antics at the Boleyn Ground by the Football Association on Monday, per BBC Sport. As will reports that suggest the Chelsea hierarchy are lining up possible replacements for the former Real Madrid manager, should they be forced to wield the axe.

Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph previously wrote that the Blues chiefs are sounding out Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola about potentially taking over next season. However, should Mourinho be sacked mid-campaign that’d leave owner Roman Abramovich needing a temporary solution; according to Law, former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti would not be willing to be that stopgap.

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Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph suggested the Italian may be an ideal replacement for Mourinho, especially if the players are irked by some of his conduct:

Mourinho continuing to make the headlines for various incidents is not good for the club either. The Blues are quickly earning an unsavoury reputation in the football world, something that’s being forged by their manager’s continued run-ins with officials and poor discipline from players on the field.

Keith Hackett, the former head of referees, explained that he feels as though Mourinho’s actions are having a negative impact on the English game, per his blog “You Are The Ref” (h/t Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mirror):

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Sadly the image of the Premier League is being tarnished by Jose Mourinho. He appears to be one very unhappy person who, frankly, is using referees as a scapegoat for poor performances.

For a number of years with Mourinho in charge, Chelsea have been a difficult team to referee. There is no question referees need to be on top form when they are officiating this club. …

Moss was appointed to a poisoned chalice when it comes to Chelsea – not the easiest team to control.

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Indeed, Mourinho has already picked up a £50,000 fine and a suspended one-match stadium ban after branding referees “afraid” to award penalties to Chelsea earlier this term. As Matthew Syed of the Times suggested, perhaps it’s time for the Portuguese to look a little closer to home when assessing Chelsea’s disappointing displays:

If there are big concerns with some of the key figures in the Chelsea dressing room, then the end could well be in sight for Mourinho. He’s a shrewd tactician, a fine motivator and a thoroughbred winner, but throughout his distinguished managerial career, the Portuguese has never had to cope with a slump as bad as this.

While we aren’t privy to what goes on behind closed doors, a team’s displays are the truest reflection of a manager. At the moment, like Mourinho, the Chelsea players seem unwilling to take responsibility; a more critical look at himself and a subsequent reformation, perhaps prompting the players to do the same, would be a positive first step.