CARVED UP AT FESTIVE FEAST
The players laughed and joked over their turkey but the boss was soon on his way, carrying his Special One mug and life size cut-out
JOSE MOURINHO was sacked after a silver- service Christmas lunch with his players and coaching staff at Chelsea’s training centre yesterday.
Mourinho was summoned to a meeting in the main building with owner Roman Abramovich, chairman Bruce Buck and director Eugene Tenenbaum, having pulled crackers and eaten roast turkey. The exchange, which lasted less than 10 minutes, concluded weeks of talks between Chelsea’s lawyers, Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes and the manager’s legal team over his £250,000-a-week contract.
Although his mood at training had been dark following Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester, his players were in high spirits when they went upstairs for their Christmas lunch. They laughed and joked, not knowing the axe was coming for their manager. Inside, he was burning.
Within minutes, he was out of a job after a short conversation with the Russian owner and the two directors. Mourinho soon left with his belongings, including a life-size cardboard cut-out and a ‘Special One’ mug. Chelsea will shortly confirm the appointment of Guus Hiddink as interim boss in an attempt to stabilise the club, although coach Steve Holland is likely to be in charge for tomorrow afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink, who has been negotiating with Chelsea behind the scenes for weeks, had a previous spell in charge of Chelsea when they dismissed Luiz Felipe Scolari in February 2009.
Despite claims from the club that Mourinho had a healthy relationship with his players, sporting director Michael Emenalo revealed last night that there had been ‘palpable discord’ between them.
Referring to the club’s decision to reward Mourinho with a four-year deal at the start of the season, worth £250,000 a week, Emenalo said: ‘ That contract clearly signifies that what has happened today was not a pre-meditated decision. It was a decision taken to protect the interests of the club.
‘While there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact of the matter remains that Chelsea Football Club is in trouble. The results are not good. There obviously seemed to be a palpable discord between manager and players, and we felt it was the time to act.
‘The owner was forced to make a very tough decision for the good of the club. Make no mistake about it, Chelsea — one of the biggest clubs in the world — are one point above relegation in the Premier League and that’s not good enough.
‘Any fan who loves the club or has any kind of affiliation to the club can understand that something needed to be done.’
Abramovich made the decision to fire Mourinho after Chelsea were beaten for the ninth time in the Premier League this season at leaders Leicester on Monday.
Long-term, Chelsea have sounded out Pep Guardiola about the job, but the Bayern Munich boss believes the club is too volatile. He is the world’s most wanted coach following his decision to quit Bayern next summer, and has indicated Chelsea would need 10 new players to make them competitive again at the elite level.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, who has a £15million buyout clause, is also on Chelsea’s radar but in the short term they will turn to Hiddink. The Dutchman, 69, who led Chelsea to FA Cup success after replacing Scolari, has been out of work since a disastrous spell in charge of Holland.
Hiddink was fired in June during their failed qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 and has been out of management ever since. He has stayed on good terms with Abramovich following his successful stint at Stamford Bridge six years ago and has agreed to take charge again.
Chelsea claimed last night that Mourinho had left the club by mutual consent after weeks of complicated negotiations over the compensation due to him.
A statement from the club said: ‘All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned in the summer of 2013. His three League titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history.
It took less than 10 minutes to end the manager’s reign
But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.
‘The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.
‘ The club’s focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential.’
The defending champions have lost nine times in the Premier League this season and are just one point off the relegation zone going into tomorrow’s clash with Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland. Hiddink was still in Holland last night and will not be ready to take the reins for such a crucial match.
Mourinho has failed to motivate the players who were crowned champions in May. The difficulties were exacerbated when he challenged two members of the board to fire him during a volatile exchange following the 2-1 defeat at West Ham on October 24.
Mourinho had been sent to watch the game from the stand after refusing to leave referee Jon Moss’s dressing room at half-time during the Premier League loss at Upton Park. He had been angered by a red card for midfielder Nemanja Matic.
By then, Chelsea had already been beaten five times in the League and it is felt Mourinho instigated his departure during that emotional exchange in the directors’ box.
A potential legal threat has forced Mourinho to accept reduced terms on the £40million outstanding on the contract he signed just a few months ago.
Emenalo, who is also fighting to save his job because of Chelsea’s disastrous transfer dealings, has defended the players who are blamed by many fans for falling out with their high-profile manager.
He said: ‘People need to remember this is essentially the same group of players who won the League and the League Cup last season. They did it in style. They did it by showing commitment — blood, sweat and tears for the club when needed.
‘They played to instruction. They adhered to everything that the manager asked them to do. It’s very easy to make that kind of inference but it’s not one that the club accepts.
‘Obviously we know now that the players have a responsibility to go out and prove everyone wrong and show a certain level of commitment to the decision that has been made tonight. To try to get the club up the League table. That’s what they have to do. That’s what they’re supposed to do. I believe that’s what they’ve been trying to do.’