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Sport

03rd Oct 2015

The Special One should consider his future…but his ego won’t allow it

Un-special

Nooruddean Choudry

It seems like madness to say it of a manager who is a reigning champion.

Double folly about one of the greatest coaches of the modern era – at the start of October too. But maybe, just maybe, Jose Mourinho should question his own abilities to save this sinking and sorry Chelsea.

If anyone can turn the ship around, it is the genius Portuguese. But these are ominous waters. A man and a team so used to looking, feeling and indeed being unbeatable are anything but at present.

That’s part of the problem. So much of Mourinho’s success has been built upon belief. Both internal and external preconceptions of invincibility. They feel like winners, so they win; others expect to lose, so they do.

Not anymore. Chelsea are playing like David Moyes’ Manchester United, when the force field of Sir Alex Ferguson was removed and the Old Trafford club were treated like mere mortals.

The difference with Chelsea of course is that Mourinho is still there, and he himself is somehow conspiring to crush his own omnipotence with little correction.

Whereas the Iberian’s reputation and record is one of optimising the potential of his charges, this current crop look a hollow imitation of their true collective talent.

This is Chelsea’s worst start to a domestic campaign in 37 years – long before Roman Abramovich and his huge wealth transformed the club. That season they were relegated.

Jose Mourinho should probably resign. This isn’t working. But he won’t, because he can’t contemplate the notion that he has somehow contributed to his own demise.