Jose Mourinho Reportedly to Be on Bench for Liverpool Game, Latest on FA Hearing
Beleaguered Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is free to take his place on the Blues bench for their clash with Liverpool, despite a fresh Football Association charge hanging over the Special One's head.
The game could be the final match of the Portuguese coach's second tenure at Stamford Bridge, but David Anderson and Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mirror note his case with the FA will not be heard before Saturday’s 12:45 p.m. GMT kick-off against Jurgen Klopp's side.
A defeat at the Bridge will put incredible strain on Mourinho's authority to carry on his duties, and it is likely to force owner Roman Abramovich's hand.
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Mourinho allegedly abused referee Jon Moss at half-time in Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to West Ham United last Saturday, prompting an FA investigation after the coach refused to leave the match official's room, per Anderson and Kajumba.
The Blues boss is expected to receive a stadium ban after his latest indiscretions, with Mourinho's behaviour becoming more unpredictable with every Chelsea defeat.
The Premier League champions have only won three of their opening 10 league matches, according to Squawka.com, leaving the manager on the brink of a shock exit.
Dave Kidd of the Daily Mirror said former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is set for an emotional reunion with his former employers, as Abramovich looks to rescue a season of pain and turmoil.
However, Mourinho said he is not concerned about losing his job, speaking after the defeat to Stoke City in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, as quoted by Richard Jolly of ESPN FC: "I don't need it. I don't need more [reassurances]. My general situation is fantastic. I have a day off tomorrow [on Wednesday], I have a fantastic family, I can sleep well every night. And Thursday is one more day like I have in the last 15 years of my life."
Former Chelsea player Carlo Cudicini believes Mourinho is still the right man for the job, telling the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (via Alex Varney of talkSPORT) he has faith in the coach's ability to find a solution:
"He is a manager with great experience and they have players with great experience so I am sure they will be able to turn it around.
The team is putting in very good performances, they are working hard, they just need to turn the corner. You will be able to do that with a good result maybe against a very good team or in an important game. They just need to turn that corner because the will to do that is there.
The results are not great at the moment but he deserves time to turn things around.
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A loss against a defensively prepared Liverpool will surely see the end of Mourinho at Chelsea, with the ownership unable to accept a relegation fight if defeats continue at the current rate.
It will be a sad end for one of English football's most charismatic figures, but Mourinho has looked anything but special since the pre-season. His team looked tired and jaded before the Community Shield fixture, and they have not rediscovered their verve since then.
Ancelotti is a highly qualified individual, and he has the advantage of knowing Chelsea inside and out, as well as working with Abramovich in a professional capacity.
The fact that he is free at the moment—and will not cost the Blues compensation—will appeal to the owner, especially if Abramovich has had enough of Mourinho's current performance.
