Jose Mourinho Reportedly Suspects Chelsea Mole as Potential Successors Emerge

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reportedly suspects one of his players leaked his teamsheet ahead of their 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on Monday, as pressure grows on the Portuguese.

According to the Times' Matt Hughes, Mourinho repeatedly stated in the wake of the defeat—which left Chelsea 16th, just one point above the relegation zone after 16 games—he felt betrayed by his players, and his choice of words was not only anger at the performance but also "believed to have stemmed from his suspicion that one of them had leaked details of his team selection."

Further, according to the Daily Mail's Matt Barlow, he also told Chelsea TV he is unhappy with a number of unnamed players' attitudes and their commitment since claiming the title last season:

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Some of them need to rethink the way they live Chelsea, the way they live football, they live their job.

Chelsea is big, football is more than a job, it's a passion. Every match on the pitch you should live with an unbelievable passion.

How many millions would love to be football players and they can't be? You shouldn't waste any minutes on the pitch, you should enjoy every minute and you should give absolutely everything.

Yes, I feel frustrated with some players and I feel that some others give absolutely everything and don't deserve to lose.

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Indeed, with former stalwarts such as Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech gone, John Terry and John Obi Mikel are the only surviving players from Mourinho's first tenure at the club between 2004 and 2007, when he built success from a core of players who not only had the talent but the drive to succeed every year.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

His new Chelsea side are seemingly yet to develop such a mentality, as they're following up their first title in five years with one of the worst championship defences in Premier League history.

Football writer Miguel Delaney was critical of their showing at the King Power Stadium on Monday, though he believes Mourinho must take his share of the blame:

Barlow's report noted club owner Roman Abramovich "has remained staunchly behind his manager," and the pair currently share a positive relationship, with the Russian eager to change his reputation as trigger-happy.

However, the Daily Mail's Neil Ashton reported Mourinho is principally being kept in the job, as the club would have to pay him a princely £40 million to buy out his contract. Despite that, Ashton said the Blues are "drawing up a shortlist" of candidates who could replace the Portuguese.

One-time interim Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink and former manager Avram Grant, as well as former England manager Fabio Capello and ex-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers—previously a coach at Stamford Bridge during Mourinho's first tenure at the club—are among those touted, with Hiddink named as being "under serious consideration."

Of those names, Hiddink does seem the most likely.

LEFTERIS PITARAKIS/Associated Press

Despite taking the Blues to within a penalty kick of winning the Champions League in 2008, Grant has otherwise had little success as a manager outside of Israel and saw both Portsmouth and West Ham United relegated from the Premier League under his care.

There remain serious questions over Rodgers' ability to manage a big club—particularly his dealings in the transfer market—while Capello has had great success in the past but, discarding the titles Juventus were stripped of as a result of Calciopoli, has won just one trophy since 2001.

Hiddink stepped in at Stamford Bridge in 2009 following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari and proved popular with players and fans alike as he guided the club to an FA Cup win. Should Mourinho be fired, he would likely be one of the few managers who would be welcomed with open arms by the Blues support.

After losing to Leicester, Mourinho conceded Chelsea will be unable to finish in the top four this season.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

The Blues last ended below fourth under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, finishing sixth, but they still qualified for the Champions League by virtue of winning it that season.

On current form, and with Paris Saint-Germain looming in the round of 16 in this year's competition, that doesn't look a realistic possibility.

There are many occasions on which the 52-year-old could have been sacked already this season, though, so it's difficult to predict exactly where Abramovich will draw the line. 

Chelsea are showing little sign of improvement on the pitch, and Mourinho's handling of his players has thus far had little motivational effect, so his latest comments aren't likely to provoke a dramatic turnaround in fortune—particularly if one of his players did leak his team selection.