Jose Mourinho has already indicated that he may leave Roma before the end of the season as Chelsea are linked once more with their former manager. The Portuguese boss has become a popular name within the fanbase as a potential replacement for Graham Potter should he be sacked.
The terrible run of form has shown up issues within the squad that are being made evident with many pointing the finger at the manager too. Potter has struggled to get a tune out of a group with undoubted quality and regardless of the many mitigating factors, the form has been largely inexcusable.
This has led supporters to compile their own lists of new names for the hot seat with Mourinho cropping up consistently. As such a household name at Stamford Bridge it is an easy link to make. On top of that he has shown signs of adapting to modern football, a criticism thrown at him during tough times at Manchester United and Tottenham.
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Now 60 and enjoying another positive season at Roma, some are hoping that his tough mentality can get through to the squad at Chelsea should the impossible happen and he return for a third stint. Having left in 2015 with unfinished business despite winning three titles at SW6 he has had success in a different way elsewhere.
Mourinho said that finishing second with United was his greatest achievement as a manager before he helped Tottenham to the Europa League from mid-table. He also got to a cup final with Spurs and took Roma to Conference League victory last season too.
It is very much a different level to his serial league winning achievements of the 2000s but that hasn't perturbed those that are sold on a reunion with one of their favourite managers once more. Having already dropped some subtle hints that a final return to west London might not be off the cards, as well as reportedly making himself available for the new owners, Mourinho has spoken about his future already this season.
"I could've left in December and didn’t, this is my life, every day there is a game," he said earlier this year. "Sometimes it might seem as if we are struggling, but we are up there with all the others who are very strong."
Roma are currently fifth and just three points off second placed Inter Milan with a game in hand too. It hasn't been a free flowing season, scoring just 30 times in 23 games - the second lowest in the top half - but in true Mourinho style they have only conceded 19, the third lowest in the league.
There does appear to be a true race for the Champions League spots for Mourinho's men, something extremely attractive to him as he looks to make an improvement on their sixth place finish last season, one better than the year before.
Not finishing in the Champions League places could open him up to the fairytale return to Chelsea though according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian publication write that he would be allowed to leave the club if they fail to qualify, opening him up to Chelsea once more.
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