London - Roman Abramovich will be forced to pay Jose Mourinho more than £40million if he fires the Chelsea manager at an emergency board meeting on Wednesday.
Abramovich will hold more talks with his management team - Bruce Buck, Marina Granovskaia, Eugene Tenenbaum and Michael Emenalo - about Mourinho’s future. When the Portuguese returned to the club in 2013, the board voted 3-2 in his favour. It will be another close call on Wednesday.
Buying out his four-year, £250 000-a-week deal is one of the main reasons behind the reluctance to sack Mourinho so soon after signing a new contract.
He agreed to talk about a new deal towards the end of last season but the club waited until August before officially announcing the new pact.
After winning the title so comprehensively, Chelsea believed Mourinho was the world’s greatest manager and agreed a straight four-year term without negotiating a settlement clause in case they were forced to sack him.
Although Abramovich will meet the £40m compensation package if necessary, it would be the second time he has forked out a small fortune to get rid of Mourinho. In September 2007 he paid the Portuguese and his coaching staff £16m to leave, though Abramovich later sent him a Ferrari to thank him for his work.
The owner has been standing by Mourinho despite the champions’ dreadful run of results. The board backed him when they last met but a 2-1 defeat at Leicester on Monday night has left the club one point above the relegation zone.
Mourinho accused his players of betrayal after the latest loss and yesterday Cesc Fabregas conceded that everyone in the squad needs to improve.
‘We all have to take responsibility. If you are a big player and are paid like a big player you have to perform and behave like a big player,’ said the Spain midfielder.
‘We all have bad games, but the attitude always has to be spot on and we have to be at the top of our games even when it’s not. The behaviour needs to be better from every Chelsea player.’
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be disappointed to learn that John Stones is ready to stay at Everton until at least the end of the season. A fine start to the campaign has made the England defender one of the hottest properties in the Premiership.
Stones was the subject of several bids from Chelsea this year and, at the time, was interested in a move. Chelsea are keen to renew their efforts to land him next month, while Manchester United and Manchester City are both planning big-money offers.
However, the 21-year-old wants to cement his place in England’s Euro 2016 plans and does not want to take any risks that might jeopardise his position.
Daily Mail