Chelsea vs Sunderland: Defeat could be final nail in the Jose Mourinho coffin

Jose Mourinho will be in the Stamford Bridge dug-out against Sunderland on Saturday.

Standard Sport revealed yesterday that the Chelsea board had met to discuss their manager’s future following the 2-1 defeat to Leicester on Monday night.

The club are considering making a change with Chelsea just one point and two places above the relegation zone. Guus Hiddink is the strongest candidate to take over on a caretaker basis.

But Standard Sport understands Mourinho will be given longer to turn things around and was at the club’s training ground today to prepare for Saturday’s game. The Portuguese is also expected to hold his pre-match press conference tomorrow as normal, although his position will no doubt be the subject of increased scrutiny.

Chelsea issued Mourinho a rare vote of confidence in October after they suffered a 3-1 loss to Southampton. But results have not improved and they have now made their worst start since 1978.

Chelsea have started drawing up contingency plans for who they would like to succeed Mourinho on a long-term basis next season. Pep Guardiola — heavily linked with a move to Manchester City — and Diego Simeone are owner Roman Abramovich’s first-choice targets, but neither will be available until next season. Hiddink has hinted he would be prepared to do the job short term, as he did in 2009.

Chelsea have been reluctant to sack Mourinho as he only signed a four-year contract in August and the club have been talking to him about possible transfer targets in January as well as next summer.

Chelsea’s progression into the last 16 of the Champions League bought him more time but Abramovich’s patience may run out if Chelsea lose to Sunderland.