Jose Mourinho future: Chelsea manager among favourites to be sacked ahead of crucial games against Porto and Leicester

Poor results could force hand of owner Roman Abramovich 

Simon Rice
Monday 07 December 2015 10:56 GMT
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Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is among the favourites with bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager sacked ahead of a week of defining games for Chelsea.

The Blues take on Porto on Tuesday evening in a match that could lead to elimination from the Champions League. They then play away to high-flying Leicester in a match that signifies how much has changed since Chelsea won the title last season.

The Independent understands that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich still wants to keep Mourinho as manager, believing the Portuguese should be given time to turn things around. Having presided over a culture of ditching managers at the first sign of trouble, the Russian is keen for the club to change tact. He is also aware that there are a lack of alternative coaches available.

However, poor results in the next two matches have the power to change the logic among the Chelsea hierarchy. An exit from the Champions League, which would occur should they lose at home to Porto and Dynamo Kiev beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the night's other Group G match, would mark just the second time the club have gone out at the group stage since Abramovich took over in 2003.

Aware of the crucial fixtures coming up, bookmakers have given Mourinho shorter odds than even struggling Newcastle manager Steve McClaren.

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