Chelsea sack boss after Premier League slump

Journalists wait outside Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Friday, Dec. 18, 2015.

The 69-year-old Dutchman will return to Stamford Bridge for a second spell as interim manager, after Jose Mourinho was sacked on Thursday.

League champions and League Cup winners last season, Chelsea have slipped to within a point of the Premier League relegation zone after losing nine of their first 16 games.

“All at Chelsea thank Jose for his huge contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013”, read Chelsea’s statement.

“He will not be taking a sabbatical, he isn’t exhausted, he doesn’t need it, he is very positive, and is already looking forward”, CAA said in a statement.

With (many of) the players possibly feeling the same way, Abramovich went to Chelsea’s training ground at Cobham today to deliver a speech to our first-team players and clear the air on his decision-making and the club’s future.

Meanwhile, 62-year-old Chilean Pellegrini told Manchester City’s official website: “Maybe in some ways it’s hard to understand, the manager who won two titles last season to lose their job”.

Hiddink played a similar role in 2009, appointed after the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari and steering Chelsea to FA Cup glory.

Chelsea begin life after Jose Mourinho in a more uncertain position than any other they have found themselves in since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

In the wake of Mourinho’s sacking, Emenalo talked about a “palpable discord between manager and players”.

The statement also rejected Chelsea’s claim that Mourinho left by mutual consent, with Mourinho confirming that he was sacked by the club’s board without agreeing to leave himself.

“We have to be ready with everybody pulling in the same direction to try and move the club up the league which is what I am sure everybody wants”.

Asked if Mourinho could be the next United manager, Beckham said: “It would be disrespectful for me to even mention it because Manchester United have got a manager and that is the way it will continue until people decide otherwise”.