HAS MOURINHO FINALLY RUN OUT OF LIVES AT CHELSEA?

The Portuguese coach saw his side slump to
another defeat as the club crashed out of the
League Cup at Stoke City on Tuesday night, and
time is running out for the boss

The League Cup has usually served as the start of
something for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea but this time,
following the defeat to Stoke City on penalties, it could
be closing in on the end. There cannot be many more
chances left for the Portuguese manager at Stamford
Bridge.

As Goal revealed on Monday, Chelsea owner Roman
Abramovich plans to review the former Real Madrid
coach’s position at the club during the international
break in two weeks time, and while patience is running
thin after two defeats in the space of four days, it is
unlikely that the club will move before mid-November.

The 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Saturday demonstrated
the air of desperation permeating the club, as Nemanja
Matic was sent off, acting as the catalyst for a complete
emotional collapse, with Cesc Fabregas and John Terry
booked for dissent and Mourinho ultimately sent to the
stands for an incident at half-time.
Tuesday night’s defeat, in the difficult conditions of
Stoke’s Britannia Stadium, was less despondent and
more controlled. There were few histrionics, few
outbursts at the referee or stinging challenges, but the
club still ultimately sunk to another defeat as Eden
Hazard, usually reliable from the penalty spot, missed
the final spot-kick of the shoot-out. It appears broken
and Mourinho doesn’t seem to know how to fix it.
Sitting 11 points behind Premier League leaders
Manchester City, it looks an almost impossible challenge
for Chelsea to retain their Premier League crown but
now, following Hazard’s missed penalty, the Blues have
also failed to regain the League Cup trophy, won against
city rivals Tottenham last season.
That trophy was the 21st of Mourinho’s career, adding
his 22nd with the Premier League title, but the
Portuguese boss has never looked further from adding
to his tally. After that win, captain John Terry, who
scored in the final, said: "It is the start of something.
We've got a great squad, with some great young
players, and hungry and experienced players too. It's a
great mix.”

Now, with the league almost a distant memory and the

League Cup gone for the season, the perception is that

the squad is ageing and imbalanced and there should

have been more additions in the summer. What worked

last season is now failing and Mourinho is at the centre

of that. It is perhaps ironic that Hazard, the player that

failed to convert the decisive spot-kick, has seen a

usually good relationship with the Portuguese manager

fracture over recent weeks, with the Belgian left out of

the 2-0 win over Aston Villa and criticised for his

defensive efforts.

As well as playing host to some sort of bust-up,

Mourinho’s sides have been known for beginning a

winning cycle with the League Cup, as they did in

2004-05 and 2014-15, but they have also been known

for grinding out dogged results in robust fixtures at

challenging away grounds. The cliche in English football

suggests that a wet weekday away to Stoke can be one

of the biggest tests of an aspirational side, with Chelsea

usually rising to that challenge.

But, despite an improved performance since the

weekend, this season is different for Chelsea and

Mourinho may be quickly running out of time as the

defeats begin add up