More than a quarter of the way through the 2015-16 Premier League season and reigning champions Chelsea are lingering in a lowly 15th place on the table and have just received an early mark from the Capital One Cup.
Despite what can only be described as a catastrophic start to the season, Chelsea boss and erratic personality Jose Mourinho remains employed.
Chelsea’s on-field woes are closely accompanied by a precession of off-field mockeries of the Portuguese manager; from the sacking of medical staff, the drastic exclusions of players, red cards to multiple media blunders, the once-Special One is now surely on the brink of the sack. But, at a club that is usually so eager to dismiss an under-performing coach, why has Mourinho been given so much time to resurrect Chelsea’s campaign? Especially when historically, Chelsea have had no problem parting ways with Mourinho, remembering that this is his second stint in charge of the Blues.
First is the very reasonable consideration that just last year he led the team to their fourth Premier League title. It was a season when Chelsea’s claim on the title very rarely seemed in jeopardy. On the side, they took out the Capital One Cup, the tournament Stoke City just knocked them out of. After a season like that, it takes a lot to turn around and sack a coach 10 rounds later.
That is the noble theory that Chelsea fans are clinging to.
The more realistic reason is just how much it would cost Chelsea, and Roman Abramovich in particular, to dissolve Mourinho’s contract. After a successful 2014-15 season, Mourinho was signed up to a contract that would keep him in charge at Stanford Bridge until 2019, on a salary that translates roughly to AU$12 million annually. This means that if Chelsea were to let him go now they would have to pay out the remaining $60 or so million that Mourinho is owed – which even for Abramovich, is a heavy sum.
In accumulation with that is the fact that there are not a lot of names that jump out as potential replacements, given that only a handful of managers rank in the same category as the Special One. That is $60 million to part ways with a man that has been one of the most successful managers of the 21st century.
Mourinho has enjoyed a trophy-laden career, with eight league titles from his time at Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid as well as two trebles. A treble, as most would know, is a trifecta of league, cup and European titles in the same season. Very few clubs (less than 10) have ever achieved the feat. Mourinho has done it twice, once with Porto in 2003 and once with Inter in 2010.
So the pedigree of the manager is clear, but is it faultless? Mourinho has recently been accused of suffering from third season syndrome, which identifies a trend in the performance of the Special One over the course of his career, accusing him of losing focus in his third season with clubs.
In his first three-year stint with Chelsea, Mourinho won the league in each of his first two seasons before finishing second in his third campaign, but managed the cup double, winning the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup. However, the immeasurable dip in form was enough for the London club to let him go. Many suspected that a rift with owner Abramovich may have been the reason behind his departure.
Fast forward to the Real Madrid era where Mourinho won La Liga in his second season in charge. A season later, the Portuguese and Madrid again succumbed to Barcelona and finished an “unacceptable” second. Mourinho came out and describe the season as the worst of his career.
[interaction id=”56307187afdd55437cd6364a”]
Now back at Chelsea and experiencing what looks like being his worst third season ever, fans and critics alike continue to wonder whether or not Mourinho will be allowed to see out the season.
Going on previous standings, it takes approximately 71 points to make the top four and qualify for the Champions League. As it stands, Chelsea and Mourinho need another 60 league points from a remaining 28 league games if they are to salvage their season.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
