Bet of the day: Mourinho NOT to be Chelsea manager on Jan 1st 2016
Holly Thackeray | October 26 2015
- Jose Mourinho has lost six of his last 12 Premier League games
- Champions Chelsea have taken just 11 points from 10 games this term
- The Blues sit in 15th place and face Liverpool next in the league
‘Special One’ under pressure
Clouds are gathering at Stamford Bridge and the future looks ominous for Jose Mourinho, who watched on from the sidelines as his Chelsea team capitulated yet again, this time to a West Ham United side that showcased all the spirit the ‘Special One’ is usually famed for instilling.
Yet, where once Stamford Bridge stood as a fortress, the Portuguese coach’s castle looks to be crumbling. Can Mourinho weather this storm? Or is the writing on the wall? Odds of 11/8 with Coral for Mourinho not to be in charge at Chelsea on January 1st 2016 are incredibly enticing as the vultures continue to circle.
As Premier League title holders, the Blues lack serious bite, and their ‘defence’ of this coveted trophy must surely go down as one of the most limp in modern history, as they sit sandwiched between Stoke City and Norwich City with a goal difference of minus four.
Points a problem for the Portuguese
They may be champions of England, but Chelsea have collected 11 points from 10 league games so far and have suffered seven defeats across all competitions. In west London, Blues bosses have been given the boot for far less.
In addition, rumours abound that usually trigger-happy Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich could return for another of his former successful coaches, with both Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink currently unemployed and casting a significant shadow over Mourinho’s dug-out.
A famously short-term tactician, mercurial Mourinho has never lasted longer than three seasons at any club, despite such incredible silverware hauls, and guess what? The controversial Iberian coach is now in the third term of his second stint at Stamford Bridge.
Will history repeat itself?
Back in 2007, it was also in autumn that Mourinho left the Londoners for the first time. So, having won just one of his last six matches in all competitions, the Chelsea boss looks ripe for another exit by ‘mutual consent’. After all, Christmas is famously the time for culling coaches in the English top flight.
With plucky Stoke up next in the Capital One Cup being exactly the type of team to cause the champions problems, Mourinho’s festive run-in does not looks favourable.
Jurgen Klopp then visits with Liverpool in the league, for a clash tipped to be the Chelsea coach’s last-chance-saloon. Considering the Blues’ record against the Reds under their current boss, that could well be the duel to end his prodigal return.
While, further along the line, facing Tottenham, Porto and Manchester United before January looks daunting, especially with key players Diego Costa, Cesc Fabgreas and Eden Hazard all under-performing. The axe is poised and at 11/8 it looks great value to fall sooner rather than later.
Related
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