It’s hard to fathom that just five months after leading Chelsea to the Premier League title, manager José Mourinho could be in danger of losing his job.
Yet that’s exactly the situation the “Special One” finds himself in after the Blues slumped to 15th on the ladder with their fifth loss in 10 games this season against red-hot West Ham on Saturday night. On another disastrous outing for the title holders, Chelsea not only fell to a 2-1 loss but had both Mourinho and his assistant Silvino Louro sent to the stands after clashing with match officials at half-time – the duo unhappy with the red card shown to defensive midfielder Nemanja Matić minutes earlier.
Matić was dismissed for receiving a second yellow while five other Chelsea players were also booked in a clear indication that all is not right at Stamford Bridge. But it is Mourinho showing the pressure more than most with his criticism of referees becoming a weekly phenomenon as the Blues continue to struggle both domestically and in Europe where they sit third in their UEFA Champions League group.
So dire has the situation become this season that it is rumored he risks being sacked as early as this weekend should his side lose again against fellow under-achievers Liverpool. Mourinho’s cause won’t be helped by the fact that he has now been charged with misconduct following his half-time tirade at the referees last weekend. The 52-year-old is already facing a suspended stadium ban for comments made following his side’s loss to Southampton recently and didn’t help his cause by failing to front the media in the wake of Saturday’s loss to the Hammers.
If found guilty at an FA hearing tomorrow night, Mourinho will likely find himself banned from the touchline for this week’s clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge – a game that could ultimately determine his fate. If that proves to be the case, Chelsea fans may have already seen the last of the “Special One.”
