Chelsea reportedly lining up Juande Ramos to replace Jose Mourinho

With defending champions Chelsea languishing just above the relegation zone of the English Premier League (EPL), mid-fielder Cesc Fabregas has urged his teammates to justify their astronomical wages and start performing like star players.

Indeed it is understood that one of the reasons the Portuguese has not yet been sacked is that Abramovich, in a bid to tempt the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge, is keen to counter the suggestion that Chelsea are a sack-happy club.

“Day by day in training I have no complaints with them”.

Mahrez has helped himself to 11 goals and seven assists in 15 appearances prompting speculation that Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona could be readying significant bids.

Avram Grant has also been mentioned as a possible caretaker manager once more, after he filled that role for Chelsea when Mourinho left the club first time around in 2007. “If you are a big player and paid like a big player, you must play like a big player and behave like a big player”, the 28-year-old said, as reported by skysports. My best qualities are to read the game for my players, every detail about the opponent. I don’t think they can. I am totally attacked in my pride because I consider myself a very good professional.

Chelsea have done significantly better in the Champions League, though, beating Porto last week to clinch top spot in their group and a place in the last 16, and Matic can not explain their inability to reproduce that form domestically. “We’re working hard to make things right”, Cahill said in the official Chelsea magazine. I would prefer to continue with the team until the end of the season. But manager Claudio Ranieri insists reaching 40 points to ensure another season in the top flight remains his only objective.

“I don’t think they’ll go down, but don’t bury your head in the sand”.

The Daily Mail said that the Chelsea board was due to meet to discuss Mourinho’s position yesterday, while the Daily Telegraph claimed the club’s hierarchy was drawing up a list of potential replacements. “I just don’t get it”.