The Chelsea manager's first stint at Stamford Bridge was ended after a poor European result - and another may see him bid farewell once more
They say that history always repeats itself.
Just over eight years ago, Chelsea drew 1-1 at home to Rosenborg to cap a frustrating start to the season – with Jose Mourinho leaving Stamford Bridge by mutual consent just two days later to the shock of the football world.
Now, as the Blues prepare for another crucial Champions League group stage match against Dynamo Kiev, the future of the ‘Special One’ once again hangs in the balance – a remarkable change in fortune for a man whose side cantered to the Premier League title just five months ago.
Widespread problems off the pitch from doctor debacles to stadium bans and rumoured dissent in the dressing room have only served to add to Chelsea’s woes on it – not just domestically but in Europe as well.
An uninspiring start to their campaign has seen the Blues win just once in the competition so far, leaving them in third position in a group that also includes Porto and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Another poor result would therefore seriously damage their chances of progressing to the knock-out stages – a particularly disastrous prospect given both Chelsea’s poor start and England’s plummeting co-efficient has already made qualification for next year’s competition appear a tall order.
As a result, Chelsea are in desperate need of three points on Wednesday – something they are priced at 8/11 to achieve.
Willian is the Blues’ top scorer so far this season having already scored twice in the Champions League, with the midfielder 8/1 to score first and 3/1 to find the net at any time.
Chelsea have reason to be optimistic given that Kiev have never won in England – losing eight and drawing two of their ten previous attempts.
However, the most recent of those games came against Arsenal seven seasons ago – with the Ukrainian champions much-improved following a two-year hiatus from Europe’s premier club competition.
Kiev have lost just once in their last 10 in all competitions and are 13/5 to draw and 4/1 to inflict Chelsea’s ninth defeat of the season.
Their success has been built on a miserly defence that has kept a remarkable 11 clean sheets in their last 14 games.
Following a goalless draw in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, they are 19/2 to take another point from Mourinho’s men with another 0-0 stalemate.
Andriy Yarmolenko represents their main goal after notching five times already this season, and having scored after just four minutes against Maccabi Tel Aviv last month the Ukrainian international is 9/1 to score first and 4/1 to net at any time.
The failure to turn Chelsea into one of Europe’s most fearsome sides has already accounted for many other popular and successful managers during the reign of Roman Abramovich.
A quarter-final exit at the hands of Manchester United was said to have sealed Carlo Ancelotti’s fate just one year after winning the Premier League, while Roberto di Matteo – the man to finally deliver the Champions League crown that the Russian so craved – was relieved of his duties following a 3-0 loss to Juventus in 2012.
Mourinho himself may claim that Wednesday’s fixture is more of a “must-not-lose” in terms of Chelsea’s hopes of progression this time around.
However, as the Portuguese already knows from personal experience – if recent history is anything to go by then nothing but a win will do if he is to stay at the helm and be given the chance to turn their fortunes around.
Chelsea v Dynamo Kiev match betting
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