Mourinho set for shock Premier League return

Jose Mourinho could still be set for a shock return to the Premier League in 2024 despite being sacked from his fourth job in a row last month and it comes at a terrible time for Mauricio Pochettino. The 61-year-old was in tears as he left Roma in January but has reportedly already set his sights on a next move.

Having taken the Italian side to back-to-back European finals, Mourinho is a messianic figure to Romans. However, domestic form had spiralled by the time he was dismissed by the Freidkins.

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Within hours of his exit it had already been written that he was in talks with Napoli over taking over under Aurelio De Laurentiis, as well as reaching a verbal agreement with Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab. Mourinho’s next move remains unknown though with a host of options still open.

Newcastle have been touted as a possible destination as Eddie Howe comes under pressure following a drop off this season. The England national team job has also been raised as a possibility with Gareth Southgate expected to leave after Euro 2024.

USMNT and Saudi Arabia’s international side have also been suggested as possible places he could be seen next whilst Barcelona are looking for a new manager and Mourinho has ties to the club. Underneath it all lies Chelsea.

The Blues have not made the progress that many expected under Pochettino so far and sit firmly in mid-table. Although they are within touching distance of the top six – just four points them and West Ham outside the Champions League places – things under Pochettino haven’t been smooth.

Chelsea, on one hand, could easily be in the bottom half in the next fortnight, cut adrift of their competition, out of the FA Cup and with the worrying prospect of facing Liverpool at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final to come. On the other hand they could be sat in sixth, into the fifth round of the FA Cup and in relatively good form for the meeting in the League Cup in three weeks.

The heavy 4-1 defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday came at a bad time for Pochettino though. It was just hours after the Daily Mail claimed that Mourinho was pushing for a return to Manchester United and that brings with it talk of a third spell at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho, to many associated with the club, is the type of strong figure that can bring a sense of unity and identity back to Chelsea at a time when it is massively missing. His recent record at club level suggests he is still an excellent knockout manager capable of mastering the dark arts and conjuring up elite performances when needed, but his domestic results have waned over time.

For Pochettino the pressure is on to prove that he himself is good enough to turn things around. Mourinho reportedly wishes to work with the new sporting system at Old Trafford following the partial takeover by Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. It is thought that an appointment for Mourinho by United is extremely unlikely, but nevertheless his so-called “unfinished business” with the club raises questions.

Mourinho also has loose ties at Chelsea after leaving in surprise circumstances with the team hovering above the relegation zone in 2015. The link between Chelsea and the Special One is undisputable, especially at a time when things are so uncertain.