Mourinho faces the sack

LONDON. — Jose Mourinho faces the sack if Chelsea lose to Liverpool this Saturday. Roman Abramovich was not impressed with the way his side lost 2-1 at West Ham and is running out of patience with Mourinho. It was the Russian billionaire’s birthday on Saturday, but the celebrations turned sour as he watched the game on holiday in Turkey. Mourinho was sent to the stands at half time after entering the referee’s room to argue with official Jon Moss, who also sent off Nemanja Matic and assistant coach Silvino Louro.

And while Mourinho retains the support of the club’s billionaire owner for now, it is believed defeat to Liverpool could be the final straw. No talks are planned between the pair beforehand, but Abramovich is expected at the game. Mourinho was publicly backed by Abramovich three weeks ago, but it is now understood that his job is again under threat after the appalling loss of discipline at Upton Park.

Chelsea face Stoke in the Capital One Cup tonight, but it is the danger of losing their English Premier League title and finishing outside the top four that spells the real trouble.

Defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side would make that a real possibility. It would also be highly ironic as it was Klopp who spelled the beginning of the end for Mourinho at Real Madrid.

A bad defeat against Klopp’s Liverpool would be a blow which the Special One would not be expected to survive after the club’s worst start to a Premier League season. The problem for Abramovich is that there are not many options available as replacements, although former caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, who steered the club to the FA Cup in 2009, is out of work, as is former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Double at Stamford Bridge in 2010 before being sacked a year later.

When he was at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp inflicted an embarrassing 4-3 aggregate defeat on Real in the 2013 Champions League semi-finals. Three weeks later Mourinho was gone. Sacking him could cost Chelsea up to £37,5m as the Blues boss has the rest of this year and three more left on the lucrative new deal he signed in the summer.

But it is understood there is a growing faction in the dressing room who do not fully back their manager, while key figures in the boardroom are also growing increasingly frustrated with a constant stream of Mourinho-fuelled controversies they feel are hurting the club’s image.

The Chelsea boss was hit with a £50 000 fine and suspended stadium ban for criticising referees recently and is now sweating on another charge for confronting Moss. It is understood Chelsea have yet to sound out possible replacements, although Ancelotti and Hiddink have both been mentioned. While Ancelotti appears an obvious choice after recently expressing a wish to return to England, it is unclear whether he would want to go back to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will also be fined for picking up seven bookings at Upton Park, and for failing to fulfil their post-match commitments, with Mourinho refusing to speak to the media.

Mourinho, already appealing against a £50 000 FA fine and suspended one game stadium ban, was yesterday likely to face another charge and possibly a touchline ban when the FA examine referee Jonathan Moss’ report, as will Louro.

The club will also face charges for failing to control their players after the seven yellow cards, plus a charge from the Premier League for either Mourinho or an assistant appearing to speak to the media after the match. Abramovich hates his club being in the media spotlight for the wrong reasons – and it has been a recurring problem with Mourinho this season as things have unravelled, with the row over doctor Eva Carneiro earlier this season kicking things off. — The Daily Star.