Jose Mourinho continues to be linked with a return to his former club Chelsea as Graham Potter suffered yet another loss in charge. In a battle between two of Mourinho's former sides it was Spurs that beat the Blues, an ignominy that he only suffered twice in 14 matches across two spells.
The Portuguese boss is currently enjoying a different type of challenge in Italy with Roma but has reportedly made his intentions of a return to Stamford Bridge clear. Such is the form of his old side it is comparable to the atmosphere in which he left the club for the second time in 2015.
Chelsea are currently 10th in the league but rank 14th since Potter took over and are now 10 points off the relegation zone as opposed to 14 from the top four. With one win in 11 matches and fan frustration evident, it is unsurprising to see new coaches linked with taking over from Potter.
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The former Brighton man is now under extreme pressure to turn results around quickly after a sixth straight game without a win and the third loss in a row. With Borussia Dortmund on the horizon and another relegation candidate visiting Stamford Bridge next week in Leeds there is very little margin for error.
The line has already been crossed for many though, with some fans turning to Mourinho as their choice for Potter's replacement. Given his clear ties to the club and the success he has had over his career it would be a remarkable story but there is little to suggest that it should be expected.
The club have previously stated that he would always be welcomed back to SW6 though, writing in his 2015 statement: "All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager 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. 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."
Roman Abramovich is gone though and Todd Boehly has less of a tie to Mourinho, making it even tougher to imagine happening. That hasn't stopped the 60-year-old from praising his former side. In an interview with Sky Sports he recently gave a cryptic message, saying: "If you ask me do I have somebody that I would love to take over from 'my Chelsea' let's say that, yes, but I have but I close my mouth.
"The club reached such a level that it doesn't matter who it's with but Chelsea will always be Chelsea. Chelsea will always be big and my house will always be 200 metres away from the stadium so I want to keep listening to the sound of happiness and success. I'm pretty sure it's going to be like that."
That follows on from similar things that he said before the Europa Conference League last year. "Of course, my English connection is Chelsea, that's the way I see things, as a Chelsea man after two periods of Chelsea and six years," he said. Meanwhile at Tottenham he was glowing of the state that Chelsea were in, saying: “I’ve been at big, big clubs with very good conditions. Chelsea, very good conditions, United the same, Madrid, the same, Inter the same."
The expectations from his former stomping ground have never changed though and in 2021 he was certain that the club fostered its own winning mentality, saying of Thomas Tuchel's job: "I don't think it's very difficult to coach at Chelsea because I was champion three times, Carlo Ancelotti was champion, Antonio Conte was champion," Mourinho said.
"It cannot be very, very difficult because we won titles there. Chelsea always have great players and great squads and good coaches are happy to work with these clubs and with players who give you a very good opportunity to be successful and win titles."
This is far from the state of affairs at the club now though. Some will say that Mourinho's very aura will help those struggling currently to find form but that would be yet another risk for Boehly. The answer is certainly far from clear.
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