Time up for Mourinho

Mourinho is encountering problems on all areas of the pitch as well as off it

How long will Chelsea hold on to Jose Mourinho It’s the question that is racking many a brain in England and elsewhere after Chelsea’s disastrous start in the league. For a man who is only used to life at the top end of the table, fifteenth place after 10 matches must be a strange place. As losses and injuries are mounting, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich must be counting the cost of keeping the Portuguese in charge. Mourinho’s elephantine ego will not allow him to cling to the job. Before push comes to shove he would want to leave Stamford Bridge with his honour intact.

Who could have foreseen such trouble for Chelsea and Mourinho at the start of the season Those who say they had the prescience are as close to truth as the North Pole is to the South. Pundits were falling over each other to predict an encore for the Blues. Some weren’t even ready to contemplate a challenge to Chelsea’s reign. For many, the only interest about Mourinho this season had been how far he would take his club in the Champions League. A settled squad under a proven manager can’t possibly fail was the refrain of the majority. But what has been unfolding is quite extraordinary.

Having dropped 19 points out of 30, the Blues are out of the title race for all practical purposes. Losing to Stoke City on penalties in the League Cup a couple of days ago has exacerbated Mourinho’s problems, even though the Portuguese has boldly proclaimed that he needs no reassurances about his job. Reports from London suggest that the manager is holding out for a severance pay that is in the region of £30 million pounds. Replacements are also being bandied about.

Whatever could go wrong is going wrong for Chelsea. Mourinho is encountering problems on all areas of the pitch as well as off it. An injury to Thibaut Courtois has robbed the club of reliability between the sticks. And, the Chelsea back line never looked more vulnerable with each defender going through a confidence crisis. Mourinho’s gamble on Radamel Falcao has failed spectacularly. Diego Costa hasn’t recaptured the form of his debut season and, more important, he is never far away from an injury.

What has hurt Chelsea the hardest is the inexplicable meltdown in creative midfield. The woeful form of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard means the team are plodding along without inspiration. Mourinho’s habit of demanding more, defensively, from his creative players is chipping away at the confidence of the duo. The Portuguese values graft over craft and the philosophy can stifle imagination.

Mourinho hasn’t become a bad manager overnight; he is a victim of his success. Losing to teams that he would never go down to in his wildest dreams is a pointer that all is not well at the Bridge. A big mouth and a penchant to alienate people — from the team doctor to the referee — haven’t helped his cause either. Many are rejoicing at his discomfiture. Mourinho has done so much for Chelsea that he should be given time to turn things around. Maybe the title is beyond his reach but a top-four finish isn’t. But then, patience isn’t one of Abramovich’s virtues.