Sensational Mourinho return to Chelsea gathering serious pace as worried Italian reports explain why Roma exit is possible

Harry Watkinson 08 Feb 2023 3:02 PM

Jose Mourinho (Chelsea) Football/Soccer : Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League Group Stage match between Chelsea and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Stamford Bridge in London

Jose Mourinho is being linked with a stunning return to Chelsea, with a decision on his future reportedly resting upon one key factor at Roma.

The Portuguese coach’s current contract with the Giallorossi is due to expire in June 2024, but there have been murmurs that the Blues are considering bringing him back to Stamford Bridge for a third spell in charge.

Chelsea have struggled to find consistent form this season despite spending ridiculous amounts on new players, with pressure beginning to mount on Graham Potter.

Indeed, the Blues currently sit in ninth place in the Premier League table, after club owner Todd Boehly has spent more than LaLiga, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 combined since the start of the campaign.

While January additions like Enzo Fernandez (£107m) and Mykaylo Mudryk (£88.5m) have not had the time to gel with the rest of the squad, summer signings like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.3m), Raheem Sterling (£47.5m) and Marc Cucurella (£60m) have so far failed to have the desired impact.

In fact, Aubameyang is already looking for a way out of the club, after being left out of Potter’s 25-man Champions League squad.

You would think that if Chelsea’s form fails to improve, Boehly may well pull the trigger and sack Potter sooner rather than later.

While the Chelsea boss is struggling, by comparison, Mourinho has been a success at Roma and has become very popular with the fanbase.

Mourinho could bring success back to Chelsea

The Italian giants currently sit in third place in the Serie A, 16 points behind league leaders Napoli, so winning the title looks unlikely, but finishing in the top four would represent success.

The Portuguese coach also helped Roma to their first major trophy after a 15-year drought, by winning the Europa Conference League in 2022.

Despite this, as reported by TEAMtalk on Monday, Mourinho would consider a return to Chelsea at the end of the season.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the ‘special one’s’ decision would rest upon whether or not Roma qualify for the Champions League and if they don’t, he would be keen to rejoin the London club.

They also suggest that Mourinho is unhappy with the level of investment in the club from the board’s owners, after requesting more money to sign transfer targets.

While this is a major worry for Roma supporters, his reappointment would certainly be popular with Chelsea fans, as Mourinho was unbelievably successful during his two stints at the club between 2004 and 2007, and 2013 and 2015.

Indeed, overall, he helped the Blues to lift three Premier League titles, three League Cups, an FA Cup and an FA Community Shield, making him the most successful manager in the club’s history.

With that in mind, Boehly may turn to the Portuguese coach if he does sack Potter, but he will only be available at the end of the season, if Roma do indeed miss out on the top four.

Chelsea Roma Jose Mourinho