Some Chelsea fans want a new manager and they are looking around for ones that “get Chelsea”. Do not try to make Jose Mourinho Mk. III happen.
Chelsea Twitter (ChelsTwit for the initiated) can be a magically confusing place. And with Maurizio Sarri on shaky ground with a section of the fan base, two arguments arise: should Sarri be sacked and if so, who is next in line?
The latter flows from the former. Some names mentioned as next manager in the door make Sarri staying look like a better idea. Others make it appear as though a switch is best for all involved. And world class managers out of a job feature prominently in those discussions.
As such, one name stands out above all the rest: Jose Mourinho. Mourinho’s connection with Chelsea has caused many to start advocating for his third stint. While Mourinho may “get Chelsea”, hiring him a third time, especially now, is surely a terrible idea.
Why is this even a thing? Largely because of Mourinho’s interviews and punditry on Bein Sports and other outlets since being sacked at Manchester United. He says all the right things and the things Chelsea fans love to hear. But there are a few reasons why it just would not work right now.
First of all there is the impending transfer ban. If it gets delayed, Chelsea is likely to spend big to refresh the squad. And what world class manger loves spending big more than Mourinho! He practically invented the trope of war chests. But as of right now, Chelsea has to plan for both a ban and a delay because they truly do not know what will happen. A ban would force Chelsea into using what they have which is one knock on Mourinho and what he would want.
The second knock is that Mourinho is not very youth friendly and Chelsea needs to use a ban season to bring through several kids. Mourinho is very likely to lean on experience because that is what he does. He trusts youth very slowly even if he tries to make a spot in his squad for three or more.
Another reason as to why it would not work is the amount of control Mourinho would want. When he was at Chelsea the first time, he basically had a blank check and the ability to pick any player he wanted. The second time, he had to play tug-of-war with Michael Emenalo at every turn. He had to do similarly with Ed Woodward at Manchester United. For his next club, he wants control again and that is unlikely at Chelsea, even if the Blues are probably the club most likely to give him power.
But perhaps the best reason is the reason why he should not have joined Manchester United so quickly; Mourinho needs to get out of England for a bit. 2015/2016 was a slow descent for Mourinho until he was ultimately sacked. His normal “us against the world” facade became “me against everyone” and he was never able to get out of that hole because he went straight into the first English job he could with Manchester United.
Mourinho needs to get away from England for a while to get away from that funk. He needs to find a club where he can become the Special One again before he even considers a return to England. It is hard to tell what club would give him the control and situation he would want, but it is surely not any in England and definitely not Chelsea.
Even with as much stock as Mourinho went through at United, he is still one of the world’s best managers and Chelsea’s best ever. But that does not mean Mk. III at Chelsea would be a good idea right now (or possibly ever). So if it comes down to a return of Mourinho or keeping Sarri in an argument, it is probably best to avoid falling into the allure of the Special One again.