Jose Mourinho's return ticket to Chelsea looks to have been
stamped as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez announced his departure from
the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
All signs now point to mere formalities being the only
remaining barrier to "The Special One" making a triumphant return to
the club he led to unprecedented domestic successes before leaving in September
2007.
Once he has fulfilled his final duties at Real Madrid after
a season he openly admits has been the worst of his career, Chelsea and owner
Roman Abramovich can finalise a reunion that has been some time in the making.
With claims of an agreement in principle being reached some
time ago, the fact that Mourinho's departure is by mutual consent means
Abramovich can now complete moves for his target without having to pay
compensation. It is another factor that should lead to a swift resolution of
any remaining negotiations.
With Manchester United preferring David Moyes as Sir Alex
Ferguson's replacement and Manchester City ready to appoint Malaga's Manuel
Pellegrini to take over from sacked Roberto Mancini, Mourinho has eventually
gravitated towards what he still regards as his natural Premier League home.
He fluttered his eyelashes in Chelsea's direction after his
third successive Champions League semi-final defeat at Real, when they lost to
Borussia Dortmund. He said: "I know I'm loved by some clubs, especially
one. In Spain it is a big difference. Some people hate me."
Mourinho also hinted that the British media would welcome
his return. He is correct of course but to recall his time at the Blues as a love-in
with our profession is to put a somewhat romantic touch on the reality.
Chelsea are in no immediate rush as they fly off for a
post-season tour to the United States but it is hardly likely Abramovich and
his cohorts were startled by events unfolding in Madrid on Monday evening.
Expect things to move quickly once Mourinho's commitments are complete.
If Mourinho comes back to the club where he won two Premier
League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups in a tenure lasting a little more
than three years, there will be widespread rejoicing among Chelsea's fan base.
Abramovich ignored the discontent of Chelsea's supporters to
appoint the hugely unpopular Rafael Benitez as interim manager following the
sacking of Champions League winner Roberto Di Matteo - but by delivering
Mourinho he is assured a virtually unanimous approval rating.
In a twist laced with some irony, Mourinho would return to a
club celebrating success manufactured by his old adversary Benitez after
Chelsea's Europa League win. It was Benitez who had the act to follow,
unsuccessfully, when he succeeded Mourinho after he won the Champions League,
Serie A and the Italian Cup at Inter Milan in 2010.
Mourinho is guaranteed a hero's reception if and when he
walks through the doors of Stamford Bridge as manager once more but there is an
element of risk attached to the second coming.
The dynamic of any rekindled relationship between Abramovich
and Mourinho would be full of intrigue. It is hardly a case of "can't live
with, can't live without" but the intervening years may just have
convinced both they are best for each other.
Their relationship fractured badly before his departure and
while there has been a repair, the true test of its recovery would only come
when they work closely together again.
Mourinho and Abramovich would have to become acquainted with
a word that had not figured a great deal in their vocabulary - compromise.
The Russian oligarch may have to concede some of his power
to Mourinho in any renewed partnership but equally the latter would have to be
acutely aware of the owner's over-arching influence. As Mourinho and others have
discovered, Abramovich's word is still law at Chelsea. To expect some sort of
handover of power from Abramovich as an act of gratitude in exchange for
Mourinho's return is a notion plucked from fantasy.
Chelsea's hopes of Mourinho recreating the successes of his
first spell will rely heavily on how that delicate balance between owner and
manager plays out and can be maintained.
And there is the inevitable risk of going back to the scene
of old glories.
Is it ever the same the second time around? Can it ever be
as fresh as that sun-kissed Stamford Bridge day in June 2004 when Mourinho, the
Champions League winner with Porto, captivated Britain's sporting public with
his "Special One" speech and the verbal jousting that hinted at the
headlines to come?
One thing is certain. Mourinho will have no doubts and the
thrill of laughing in the face of his detractors will appeal to his
confrontational side.
Frank Lampard, such a key element of Mourinho's era at
Stamford Bridge, has no doubts it can be done and there is little doubt his
decision to sign a new one-year deal would have been greeted with pleasure in
Madrid if Real's coach was throwing his thoughts forward to his next
assignment.
And what of the squad he might inherit? Benitez hinted
openly after the Europa League win that Chelsea's next manager - who he is
convinced will be Mourinho - will have up to £100m to spend this summer.
With Manchester United and Manchester City also under new
management, and Arsenal now ready to spend, this is the sort of financial
strength that will shape the next generation at Chelsea.
Could it be that Mourinho will be the man to call time on
32-year-old John Terry's Chelsea career? Destabilised by injuries and with
defenders Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic more robust these days, do not bet
against Mourinho being ruthless enough to dispose of Terry if he does not suit
his purposes.
And how will the essentially pragmatic Mourinho fit
Chelsea's "Three Amigos" - Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard - into
his tactical framework? He has shown a willingness to incorporate creative
talent at Real but will he do the same in the Premier League?
Even before his arrival has been confirmed, Mourinho has
been linked with potential deals for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao and
Manchester United's transfer-seeking Wayne Rooney - although the latter may
change his mind with Moyes's arrival at Old Trafford.
What does this mean for the future of rejuvenated Fernando
Torres, who scored his 23rd goal of the season against Everton on the Premier
League season's final day and has promised even more next season?
Whatever Mourinho does or decides, he will do it with pure
theatre. Will the next chapter of his and Chelsea's story have a happy ending
if they join together once more?
Mourinho at
Chelsea 2004-07
Arrived in west
London after winning the 2004 Champions League with Porto
Famously called
himself 'The Special One' at his unveiling
Guided Chelsea to
the Premier League title in 2004-05, their first championship in 50 years
Won the title
again the following year
Added two League
Cup trophies to the cabinet
Won the first FA
Cup final at the new Wembley in 2007
Failed to reach a
Champions League final
Departed in 2007
after a 1-1 draw with Rosenborg
Never lost a home
league game
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