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<H4 class=topsech></H4><DIV class=topsec>Premiership | Chelsea <DIV>by Jonathan Stevenson - BBC Sport 14 January 2007</DIV></DIV><DIV class=matchstats2><DL></DL></DIV><HR class=section><DIV class=bodytext>[img][/img]
The papers are full of it - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is going to walk out on the club at the end of the season.
Frustrated by a lack of support from the board and with personal relationships allegedly breaking down all around him, the press claims Mourinho will pack his bags and set off for a new challenge.
Though not if the 43-year-old's loyal footsoldiers have anything to do with it.
First Didier Drogba, and now influential captain John Terry, have stepped forward to tell the Blues board to do everything in their power to hold on to a man many believe is the world's best boss.
But will billionaire owner Roman Abramovich listen?
If he and Mourinho have really fallen out over a swap loan deal with Aston Villa for Milan Baros and Shaun Wright-Phillips, will it signal the end of the Portuguese's tenure at Stamford Bridge?
Of course Mourinho himself has been distinctly non-committal on the issue.
But it didn't take long for Abramovich to dispatch Claudio Ranieri, despite the improvement he had overseen in the club's fortunes.
Is Abramovich so powerful and so single-minded that he will let Mourinho leave simply because of a difference of opinion?
Or has their relationship broken down so irretrievably that the Russian is already searching for a replacement?
Clearly, much of what is written is hearsay and it does not seem to be affecting the players too much, as their 4-0 destruction of Wigan on Saturday proved.
But what do you think? Do you really believe Mourinho could leave? Would there be a backlash against Abramovich and his chief executive Peter Kenyon? What would the future hold for Chelsea?
Or do you think the 'Chelsea in crisis' story is just the newspapers trying to stir up trouble for the champions?
For my money, I think it would be a disaster for English football if Mourinho was allowed to walk away.
The man is pure box office in everything he does, pure and simple.
Not to mention a magnificent football manager.</DIV>
The papers are full of it - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is going to walk out on the club at the end of the season.
Frustrated by a lack of support from the board and with personal relationships allegedly breaking down all around him, the press claims Mourinho will pack his bags and set off for a new challenge.
Though not if the 43-year-old's loyal footsoldiers have anything to do with it.
First Didier Drogba, and now influential captain John Terry, have stepped forward to tell the Blues board to do everything in their power to hold on to a man many believe is the world's best boss.
But will billionaire owner Roman Abramovich listen?
If he and Mourinho have really fallen out over a swap loan deal with Aston Villa for Milan Baros and Shaun Wright-Phillips, will it signal the end of the Portuguese's tenure at Stamford Bridge?
Of course Mourinho himself has been distinctly non-committal on the issue.
But it didn't take long for Abramovich to dispatch Claudio Ranieri, despite the improvement he had overseen in the club's fortunes.
Is Abramovich so powerful and so single-minded that he will let Mourinho leave simply because of a difference of opinion?
Or has their relationship broken down so irretrievably that the Russian is already searching for a replacement?
Clearly, much of what is written is hearsay and it does not seem to be affecting the players too much, as their 4-0 destruction of Wigan on Saturday proved.
But what do you think? Do you really believe Mourinho could leave? Would there be a backlash against Abramovich and his chief executive Peter Kenyon? What would the future hold for Chelsea?
Or do you think the 'Chelsea in crisis' story is just the newspapers trying to stir up trouble for the champions?
For my money, I think it would be a disaster for English football if Mourinho was allowed to walk away.
The man is pure box office in everything he does, pure and simple.
Not to mention a magnificent football manager.</DIV>